Pentax K-500 DSLR Hands-On Preview

We go hands-on with the new entry level Pentax K-500 Digital SLR.

13/06/2013 - 08:36

The Pentax K-500 is a new entry level Digital SLR from Pentax, and will be available with the Pentax smc DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL kit lens for £449.99, available at the end of June 2013. Pentax say the interchangeable lens camera market, including Digital SLRs under €1000, continues to grow, and as such, Pentax has developed the new Pentax K-50 and Pentax K-500.

Pentax K-500 Features

Like other Pentax DSLRs the K-500 features a built in shake-reduction sensor that will work with any lens attached. Rather impressively for an entry level Digital SLR, the K-500 features a 100% viewfinder, with 92% magnification as well as interchangeable focus screen, with 3 others available as optional extras (AF area matt, AF scale matt, and whole area matt).


The K-500 is also said to offer improved image quality, with ISO up to ISO51200, compared to ISO25600 on the K-30, which will continue to be available. An improved PRIME M imaging engine has been implemented with improved straight line recording with improved edges.

The Pentax K-500 differs from the Pentax K-50, as the K-50 features a weather-resistant, dustproof construction, a digital level and a superimposed in-focus indicator during AF operation. The K-50 offers 117 option colours in addition to three standard colours, while the K-500 offers only one standard black colour.

Key Features

• 16.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (Sony)
• Pentax K Mount
• 11-point AF, with 9 cross-type sensors in the middle
• 1/6000s shutter speed
• 6fps continuous shooting
• SAFOX IX i+ AF
• Full HD video, mono sound
• Shake reduction (3-stop)
• Dust removal
• ISO100 - ISO51200
• 11 custom image types
• 19 digital filters
• HDR shooting
• 2 electronic dial operation
• 2 user modes
• AA battery support (optional adapter required)
• Eye-Fi compatible

Pentax K-500 Handling

The Pentax K-500 features the same layout of buttons and controls as the Pentax K-30, so should be familiar to anyone who has used other Pentax DSLRs. The top mode dial features two user customisable user modes.

The camera features a stainless steel metal chassis with engineering plastic surrounding the camera, and it has a much more rounded design when compared to the K-30. The camera has the same focus system as the K-30, however the K-500 doesn't feature super-imposed focus confirmation in the viewfinder, insted this feature is found in the Pentax K-50.

The camera has a rubber grip around the handgrip as well as rubber on the left side of the camera, although there is no rubber grip for your thumb, instead a protruding corner of the camera acts as the grip for your thumb.



Menus - The camera has a number of useful buttons giving you quick access to common settings, without the need to delve into the menus, with further buttons on the left of the camera letting you set the focus mode, RAW/fx as well as pop up the flash. This is a mechanical button so the flash can be opened with the camera still switched off. Pressing the INFO button brings up the rear control panel where photo settings can be altered quickly. The RAW/fx button can be customised.

The Pentax menus will be familiar to anyone who has used a Pentax Digital SLR over the last few years, with clear separated areas (Photo, Video, Playback, Setup and Custom). The first item in the photo menus is the custom image setting where you can choose from 11 presets, as well as customise each one. When you customise these you can set saturation, hue, high/low key, contrast and sharpness, as well as preview each preset.




Battery - Battery life is rated at 480 shots with the provided lithium-ion battery, and can be increased by using the AA battery adapter, which is available seperately.

Pentax K-500 Hands-On Photos of Equipment

Pentax K500 Hands On (1) High-Res	Pentax K500 Hands On (2) High-Res

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