Canon 50D vs Olympus E-510

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Canon 50D and Olympus E-510, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by competitors Canon and Olympus. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the 50D (15MP) and E-510 (10MP) and the 50D (APS-C) and E-510 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor size.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The 50D was introduced 12 months later than the E-510 so they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the 50D grades versus the E-510 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon EOS 50D & Olympus E-510. The whole galleries are viewable at Canon 50D Gallery & Olympus E-510 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon 50D enjoys exterior dimensions of 146mm x 108mm x 74mm (5.7" x 4.3" x 2.9") and a weight of 822 grams (1.81 lbs) while the Olympus E-510 has measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check the Canon 50D and Olympus E-510 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the 50D and the E-510.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 50D and E-510 is 57 and 69 respectively.

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The visual here may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 50D and E-510.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 50D using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Canon 50D will give extra detail using its extra 5MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs more aggressively. The fresher 50D is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.