Pentax K-500 Review

Specifications

The table below presents the key specifications for the K-500, in comparison with the weather-sealed K-50 and the current top-level Pentax DSLR, the K-5 II/IIs.

 

Pentax K-500 Pentax K-50 Pentax K-5 II / IIs
CMOS sensor resolution 16.28 MP 16.28 MP 16.28 MP
ISO range (expanded) 100-51200 100-51200 100-12800 (80-51200)
RAW Bit Depth 12 12 14
Sensor size 15.7 x 23.7 mm (APS-C) 15.7 x 23.7 mm (APS-C) 15.7 mm x 23.7 (APS-C)
Media slot 1 SDXC / SDHC / SD 1 SDXC / SDHC / SD 1 SDXC / SDHC / SD
Video mode

1080p: 30/25/24 fps
720p: 60/50/30/25/24 fps
VGA: 30/25/24 fps
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (.MOV)

1080p: 30/25/24 fps
720p: 60/50/30/25/24 fps
VGA: 30/25/24 fps
MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (.MOV)

1080p: 25 FPS
720p: 30/25 FPS
VGA: 30/25 FPS
MPEG-4 AVC (.AVI)
Video sound

Built-in mono microphone

Built-in mono microphone

Built-in stereo microphone
External microphone input
Manual video controls ISO/Shutter Speed/Aperture ISO/Shutter Speed/Aperture N/A
AF During Video Yes, on demand Yes, on demand No
Focus Peaking Yes (during live view) Yes (during live view) No
Shutter speeds 30s-1/6000s 30s-1/6000s 30s-1/8000s
AF System and Modes SAFOX IXi+: 11-point phase detect w/ AF.S, AF.C, AF.A
-Live View contrast detect
(improved)
-AF assist lamp, light source detection sensor, diffraction lens
SAFOX IXi+: 11-point phase detect w/ AF.S, AF.C, AF.A
-Live View contrast detect
(improved)
-AF assist lamp, light source detection sensor, diffraction lens 

SAFOX X: 11-point phase detect w/ AF.S, AF.C
-Live View contrast detect
-AF assist lamp, light wavelength sensor 

AF  Sensitivity -1 to 18 EV -1 to 18 EV

-3 to 18 EV

Max framerate (buffer)

Hi: 6 fps (30 JPG, 8 RAW)
Lo: 3 fps (unlimited JPG, 10 RAW)

Hi: 6 fps (30 JPG, 8 RAW)
Lo: 3 fps (unlimited JPG, 10 RAW) 

Hi: 7 fps (30 JPG, 20 RAW)
Lo: 2 fps (unlimited JPG, 40 RAW)
LCD 3-inch, 921,000-dot 3-inch, 921,000-dot 3-inch, 921,000-dot
Air-gap less
Viewfinder Pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.92x magnification Pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.92x magnification Pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.92x magnification
Viewfinder AF
point display
No Yes Yes
Built-in flash GN 12 GN 12 GN 13
Processing Engine PRIME M PRIME M PRIME II
Weather sealed No Yes Yes
Electronic level No Yes Yes
Battery Grip Support No No Yes
Native Eye-fi Support Yes Yes No
Dimensions (WxHxD) 129 x 96.5 x 70 mm
5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 in.
130 x 97 x 71 mm
5.12 x 3.82 x 2.8 in.

130.5 x 96.5 x 72.5 mm
5.1 x 3.8 x 2.9 in.

Weight w/ battery 650 g (22.9 oz.) 650 g (22.9 oz.) 740g (26.1 oz.)

 

You may have noticed that even though the K-5 II/IIs is marketed as a more advanced camera, the K-500 and K-50 are in fact better in some respects.  For example, both the K-500 and K-50 offer focus peaking and manual video controls, while the K-5 does not.  This is because the PRIME M processor used in the K-500 and K-50 is newer than the PRIME II chip found in the K-5; Pentax have not yet updated their flagship to use the new processor.


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