Pentax K-500 Review

Conclusion

The Pentax K-500 is not only the most capable, but also the most affordable entry-level Pentax DSLR produced to date.  Because it based on the K-50, Pentax have been able to include many advanced features while keeping the price of the camera very low.

We recommend the K-500 mainly for users who are primarily interested in still photography.  This is partially due to the fact that you won't find dual control wheels or a 100%-coverage viewfinder in any competing DSLR in its class; such features come in very handy when composing through the viewfinder.  Furthermore, the K-500 is quite a remarkable camera when it comes to image quality, as it is capable of producing files almost as good as those of the top-tier Pentax cameras.  Few competing entry-level cameras can outperform it as of the writing of this review.

With that said, the K-500 is certainly no technological breakthrough: Pentax has used the same sensor on 7 consecutive models and the same processor on 4 consecutive models.  Thus, the main selling point of the K-500 is its price, which is very low to start out with and still bound to fall over time.

Value and Market Segment Price Comparison

DSLRs that directly compete with the K-500 include the Nikon D3200/D3100 and Canon Rebel series.  The table below summarizes the prices of these cameras as of August, 2013.  Note that while the K-500 has the lowest launch price, its selling price is currently higher due to competitors' rebates.

Pros

• Excellent image quality
• Kit lens of good quality
• In-body shake reduction and dust removal
• Competetively priced
• User-friendly interface
• Very fast live-view autofocus
• Loaded with features otherwise uncommon for its class
• 100%-coverage pentaprism viewfinder
• Durable construction
• Handles well
• AA and Li-ion battery compatibility
• Class-leading ISO range
• High 6FPS framerate and decent buffer size
• Focus peaking in live view
• Good video framerate options, .MOV H.264 format
• Compact and relatively light
• Class-leading 1/6000s max shutter speed
• Dual control wheels
• In-camera AF fine adjustments
• Compatible with any Pentax lens ever made

Cons

• Viewfinder autofocus speed lags behind the competition
• Autofocus poor for sports
• Lacks AF point indicators in the viewfinder- a basic feature on today's DSLRs
• Drops out of live view when menu is accessed or mode is changed
• Loud autofocus with screwdrive lenses
• Somewhat loud shutter
• Live view button oddly placed
• AF temporarily blurs image in live view
• Relatively-short battery life
• No external microphone jack
• Mono sound during video
• Video AF is still unreliable
• Audible dust removal
• No articuleted LCD screen
• No HDMI output
• Noisy autofocus with kit lens
• Vertical photographs not auto-rotated
• No dedicated video button
• No body-only kit offered

Who Is it For?

We believe that the K-500 will satisfy almost any beginner looking for a high-performance DSLR camera.  Except for the fact that the autofocus will be loud when using lenses without a built-in focusing motor (i.e. the 18-55mm kit lens), and the fact that AF points don't show up in the viewfinder, the camera really doesn't lack much from a beginner's point of view.

If you're on a budget, know that the Pentax K-mount has the best lens compatibility out there.  In fact, any K-mount lens will work with your K-500, so there are endless possibilities if you're open to shopping the second-hand market.

We can also recommend the K-500 as an upgrade over older Pentax models such as the *ist D series, K100D series, K-m, K-x, or K-r.

If you're interested in sports photography or filmmaking, then the K-500 would not be the ideal choice.

The Bottom Line

The K-500 is a very affordable way to get started with a DSLR, and thanks to its in-body stabilization, it enables more effective use of older manual lenses than cameras by other manufactures.  While the lack of superimposed AF points in the viewfinder or the lack of weather sealing may force potential users to look at the K-50 over the K-500, at the end of the day, the difference in price does justify the removal of these features to an extent. 

When compared to the competition, the K-500 is behind in terms of video-related features and autofocus technology.  While both the live view and viewfinder autofocus systems are generally fast and accurate, the fact that many affordable Pentax lenses (such as the 18-55mm) are loud to autofocus is somewhat annoying.  Fortunately, in other areas, the K-500 is comparable if not better, so there really isn't much to complain about overall.

Your DSLR purchase decision should depend on what needs and priorities you have as a photographer.  If you enjoy using the viewfinder or shooting with manual lenses, the K-500 might be the best fit from what's currently available.  If you'd prefer to start out with a rechargeable battery, or if you need weather sealing, then perhaps paying the price premium for a K-50 would be worthwhile.  On the other hand, if you want cutting-edge in-lens autofocus or advanced video features, then perhaps you should look at the D3200 or a Canon Rebel to see if the pros would outweigh the cons based on your personal requirements.

The one thing that discourages us from recommending the K-500 is the fact that it's so similar to the (upper entry-level/mid-range) K-30, which is currently on sale and available for about the same price. Over time, however, the K-500 will surely end up being a much better value.

Overall, the K-500 scores very well, albeit just below the K-50 (8.1) due to the fact that it's essentially the same camera without weather sealing and other secondary features.

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