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Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500

Portability
59
Imaging
46
Features
39
Overall
43
Canon EOS 20Da front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38

Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 Key Specs

Canon 20Da
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 3200)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 770g - 144 x 106 x 72mm
  • Revealed June 2005
Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Renewed by Olympus E-510
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Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Canon 20Da and Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the 20Da (8MP) and the E-500 (8MP) is relatively well matched but the 20Da (APS-C) and E-500 (Four Thirds) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The 20Da was unveiled 4 months earlier than the E-500 and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the 20Da scores against the E-500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 20Da over the Olympus E-500

 20Da E-500 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Canon 20Da

 E-500 20Da 
Screen sizing2.5"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution215k118kClearer screen (+97k dot)

Common features in the Canon 20Da and Olympus E-500

 20Da E-500 
RevealedJune 2005October 2005Similar age
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon 20Da comes with outer measurements of 144mm x 106mm x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") along with a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) and the Olympus E-500 has proportions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 20Da and Olympus E-500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the 20Da and the E-500.

Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the 20Da and E-500 is 59 and 70 respectively.

Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 top view buttons comparison

Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading through a spec sheet. The image below will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the 20Da and E-500.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The 20Da provides the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier.

Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 20Da
Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
51
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (8MP)
49
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 20Da as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
53
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
57
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (479g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 20Da Sports photography info
Olympus E-500 Sports photography info
44
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 20Da
Travel photography with Olympus E-500
42
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
low MP (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (8MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 20Da as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
46
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (1.8 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
43
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
no image stabilization
resolution not great (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 20Da Vlogging information
Olympus E-500 Vlogging information
9
can't record video
9
no video shooting
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Canon 20Da vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 20Da and Olympus E-500
 Canon EOS 20DaOlympus E-500
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model Canon EOS 20Da Olympus E-500
Otherwise known as - EVOLT E-500
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2005-06-01 2005-10-21
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 22.5 x 15mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 8 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Max resolution 3504 x 2336 3264 x 2448
Max native ISO 1600 400
Max enhanced ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF/EF-S Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 326 45
Crop factor 1.6 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 1.8 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 118k dots 215k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.56x 0.45x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Off Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 770 grams (1.70 lbs) 479 grams (1.06 lbs)
Dimensions 144 x 106 x 72mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 2.8") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $1,499 $600