Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-5
64 Imaging
44 Features
39 Overall
42


58 Imaging
47 Features
76 Overall
58
Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 6MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2" Fixed Display
- ISO 200 - 1600
- No Video
- Nikon F Mount
- 620g - 133 x 102 x 76mm
- Revealed July 2005
- New Model is Nikon D40X
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
- Introduced February 2011
- Earlier Model is Olympus E-3

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-5 Overview
Below is a detailed overview of the Nikon D50 versus Olympus E-5, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the D50 (6MP) and E-5 (12MP) and the D50 (APS-C) and E-5 (Four Thirds) have different sensor sizing.

The D50 was announced 6 years prior to the E-5 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).
Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the D50 grades vs the E-5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-5 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon D50 & Olympus E-5. The whole galleries are available at Nikon D50 Gallery & Olympus E-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon D50 over the Olympus E-5
D50 | E-5 |
---|
Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Nikon D50
E-5 | D50 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | February 2011 | ![]() | July 2005 | More recent by 67 months |
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2" | Bigger screen (+1") |
Screen resolution | 920k | ![]() | 130k | Crisper screen (+790k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Nikon D50 and Olympus E-5
D50 | E-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch screen |
Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-5 Physical Comparison
If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D50 comes with external dimensions of 133mm x 102mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") having a weight of 620 grams (1.37 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-5 has proportions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).
Check the Nikon D50 versus Olympus E-5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the D50 vs the E-5.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D50 and E-5 is 64 and 58 respectively.

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-5 Sensor Comparison
More often than not, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by checking technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the D50 and E-5.
As you have seen, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The D50 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-5 will give you extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs more aggressively. The older D50 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-5 Specifications
Nikon D50 | Olympus E-5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Nikon | Olympus |
Model | Nikon D50 | Olympus E-5 |
Category | Advanced DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
Revealed | 2005-07-23 | 2011-02-03 |
Physical type | Mid-size SLR | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | - | TruePic V+ |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | Four Thirds |
Sensor measurements | 23.7 x 15.5mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
Sensor area | 367.4mm² | 224.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 6 megapixel | 12 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Maximum resolution | 3008 x 2000 | 4032 x 3024 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 200 | 100 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | - | 11 |
Cross focus points | - | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Nikon F | Micro Four Thirds |
Number of lenses | 309 | 45 |
Crop factor | 1.5 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display size | 2 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 130k dots | 920k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Display tech | - | HyperCrystal transmissive LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Optical (pentamirror) | Optical (pentaprism) |
Viewfinder coverage | 95 percent | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.5x | 0.58x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 30s | 60s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shooting rate | 3.0 frames per sec | 5.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 11.00 m | 18.00 m (at ISO 200) |
Flash options | Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | 1/500s | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | - | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | None | 1280x720 |
Video data format | - | Motion JPEG |
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 | 620g (1.37 lbs) | 800g (1.76 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 133 x 102 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") | 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | 55 | 56 |
DXO Color Depth score | 20.9 | 21.6 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 10.8 | 10.5 |
DXO Low light score | 560 | 519 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 870 pictures |
Form of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery model | EN-EL3 | BLM-5 |
Self timer | Yes (2 to 20 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage type | SD card | Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | 1 | Dual |
Retail price | $499 | $1,700 |