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Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500

Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
89
Overall
81
Nikon D780 front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38

Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 Key Specs

Nikon D780
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 840g - 144 x 116 x 76mm
  • Launched January 2020
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D750
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
  • Announced October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Renewed by Olympus E-510
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Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Nikon D780 and Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Olympus. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the D780 (25MP) and E-500 (8MP) and the D780 (Full frame) and E-500 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The D780 was revealed 14 years after the E-500 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise view of how the D780 matches up versus the E-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D780 over the Olympus E-500

 D780 E-500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2020October 2005More modern by 174 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3.2"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution2359k215kSharper screen (+2144k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Nikon D780

 E-500 D780 

Common features in the Nikon D780 and Olympus E-500

 D780 E-500 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon D780 provides outside dimensions of 144mm x 116mm x 76mm (5.7" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 840 grams (1.85 lbs) while the Olympus E-500 has specifications of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs).

Compare the Nikon D780 and Olympus E-500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the D780 versus the E-500.

Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D780 and E-500 is 57 and 70 respectively.

Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching technical specs. The picture here might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D780 and E-500.

As you can tell, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The D780 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon D780 will result in more detail because of its extra 17 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The fresher D780 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D780
Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
86
focusing manually
resolution is amazing (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
49
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D780
Street photography with Olympus E-500
71
has a tilting screen
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
supports touch focus
weather proof
great high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
57
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (479 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D780 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
resolution is amazing (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery (2,260 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D780 Travel photography factors
Olympus E-500 Travel photography factors
71
great battery (2,260 CIPA)
weather proof
has bluetooth
supports touch focus
resolution is amazing (25 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
52
lighter than average in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (8MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D780 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-500 Landscape photography factors
81
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
resolution is amazing (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
great battery (2,260 CIPA)
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
43
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D780
Vlogging with Olympus E-500
32
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
9
no video recording
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Nikon D780 vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D780 and Olympus E-500
 Nikon D780Olympus E-500
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D780 Olympus E-500
Also referred to as - EVOLT E-500
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2020-01-07 2005-10-21
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 858.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 25MP 8MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 6048 x 4024 3264 x 2448
Highest native ISO 51200 400
Highest enhanced ISO 204800 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 51 3
Cross type focus points 15 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 309 45
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2" 2.5"
Display resolution 2,359 thousand dot 215 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.45x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 900 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 100p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 840g (1.85 lb) 479g (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 144 x 116 x 76mm (5.7" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 2260 pictures -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL15b -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots Two Single
Retail price $2,297 $600