Pentax K-500 review – Verdict

With a feature set that wouldn’t look out of place one more costly models, the K-500 is perhaps one of if not the best-specified entry-level DSLRs you’ll find thanks in part to the large pentaprism viewfinder, 6fps burst shooting, dual control dials and AF system that includes 9 cross-type sensors.

It’s also one of the better entry-level DSLRs in the hand thanks to the large and comfy grip, while you should be more than satisfied with the image quality with results from the K-500 are more than a match for its rivals, despite loosing out in the resolution stakes.

I’d perhaps like to see a little less underexposure in some shots, but overall there’s little to not like, with a very good image noise performance, plenty of latitude in files and a decent amount of detail.

What holds the K-500 back from being our pick of the entry-level DSLRs is the camera’s AF. There are no complaints about its speed and accuracy, but doing away with the active AF point superimposed in the viewfinder is a big omission.

It may not sound like much, but it’s a real hindrance and can be quite frustrating when trying to compose and focus shots. If you can over come this and the rather dated interface, then you’ll be rewarded with a very capable and well-specified DSLR.