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Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500

Portability
56
Imaging
58
Features
70
Overall
62
Canon EOS 7D front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38

Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 Key Specs

Canon 7D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 860g - 148 x 111 x 74mm
  • Released November 2009
  • New Model is Canon 7D MII
Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Released October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
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Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Canon 7D versus Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the 7D (18MP) and E-500 (8MP) and the 7D (APS-C) and E-500 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor size.

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The 7D was announced 4 years later than the E-500 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the 7D scores against the E-500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 7D over the Olympus E-500

 7D E-500 
ReleasedNovember 2009October 2005More recent by 50 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k215kSharper display (+705k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Canon 7D

 E-500 7D 

Common features in the Canon 7D and Olympus E-500

 7D E-500 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Canon 7D has physical dimensions of 148mm x 111mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) and the Olympus E-500 has sizing of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs).

Compare the Canon 7D versus Olympus E-500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the 7D vs the E-500.

Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 7D and E-500 is 56 and 70 respectively.

Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 top view buttons comparison

Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by seeing specifications. The graphic underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 7D and E-500.

To sum up, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 7D using its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Canon 7D will produce greater detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern 7D is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 7D Portrait photography info
Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
49
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 7D as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (479g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
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Sports Comparison

Canon 7D Sports photography information
Olympus E-500 Sports photography information
64
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
low battery pack (800 CIPA)
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 7D Travel photography information
Olympus E-500 Travel photography information
54
environment proof
MP count decent (18MP)
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery pack (800 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 7D Landscape photography details
Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
63
has manual focus
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
MP count decent (18MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
no image stabilization
low battery pack (800 shots)
no Timelapse function
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 7D Vlogging details
Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
29
features face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
9
no video
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Canon 7D vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 7D and Olympus E-500
 Canon EOS 7DOlympus E-500
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model Canon EOS 7D Olympus E-500
Also called - EVOLT E-500
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2009-11-06 2005-10-21
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual Digic 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 8 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Peak resolution 5184 x 3456 3264 x 2448
Highest native ISO 6400 400
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 19 3
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF/EF-S Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 326 45
Crop factor 1.6 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 920k dots 215k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology TFT color LCD, liquid-crystal monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x 0.45x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 860 grams (1.90 pounds) 479 grams (1.06 pounds)
Physical dimensions 148 x 111 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 2.9") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 854 not tested
Other
Battery life 800 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LP-E6 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive cards Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $1,050 $600