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Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500

Portability
64
Imaging
44
Features
39
Overall
42
Nikon D50 front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 Key Specs

Nikon D50
(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
  • Replacement is Nikon D40X
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
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-510
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Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the D50 (6MP) and E-500 (8MP) and the D50 (APS-C) and E-500 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The D50 was introduced 3 months earlier than the E-500 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple summation of how the D50 grades versus the E-500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D50 over the Olympus E-500

 D50 E-500 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Nikon D50

 E-500 D50 
Screen dimensions2.5"2"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution215k130kSharper screen (+85k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D50 and Olympus E-500

 D50 E-500 
RevealedJuly 2005October 2005Similar age
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon D50 enjoys outside dimensions of 133mm x 102mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") along with a weight of 620 grams (1.37 lbs) and the Olympus E-500 has measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view size comparison of the D50 and the E-500.

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D50 and E-500 is 64 and 70 respectively.

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through specs. The picture below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the D50 and E-500.

All in all, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The D50 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-500 will give you more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively.

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D50 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
53
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/500 seconds)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
49
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (8MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D50 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-500 Street photography highlights
58
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (620g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (479 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D50 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
38
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D50 Travel photography features
Olympus E-500 Travel photography features
50
lighter than competition (620 grams)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (6 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (8MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D50 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-500 Landscape photography factors
46
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
small screen (2 inches)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (6MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
43
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D50 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video
9
can't record video
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Nikon D50 vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D50 and Olympus E-500
 Nikon D50Olympus E-500
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D50 Olympus E-500
Alternative name - EVOLT E-500
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2005-07-23 2005-10-21
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.5mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 367.4mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 8 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 3008 x 2000 3264 x 2448
Maximum native ISO 1600 400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 1600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 309 45
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2" 2.5"
Resolution of display 130k dot 215k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.5x 0.45x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/500s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Maximum video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 620g (1.37 lb) 479g (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 133 x 102 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 560 not tested
Other
Battery ID EN-EL3 -
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD card Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $499 $600