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Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500

Portability
54
Imaging
72
Features
80
Overall
75
Nikon D800 front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 Key Specs

Nikon D800
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Succeeded the Nikon D700
  • Newer Model is Nikon D810
Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
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Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Nikon D800 and Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Nikon and Olympus. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the D800 (36MP) and E-500 (8MP) and the D800 (Full frame) and E-500 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor sizing.

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The D800 was released 6 years after the E-500 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the D800 matches up against the E-500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D800 over the Olympus E-500

 D800 E-500 
RevealedJune 2012October 2005Newer by 81 months
Display dimension3.2"2.5"Larger display (+0.7")
Display resolution921k215kCrisper display (+706k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Nikon D800

 E-500 D800 

Common features in the Nikon D800 and Olympus E-500

 D800 E-500 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Nikon D800 features outside dimensions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs) and 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).

See the Nikon D800 and Olympus E-500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the D800 versus the E-500.

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the D800 and E-500 is 54 and 70 respectively.

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions only by viewing technical specs. The pic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the D800 and E-500.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The D800 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Nikon D800 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 28 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The more recent D800 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D800 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
83
you can focus manually
excellent sensor resolution (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
48
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (8MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D800
Street photography with Olympus E-500
59
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
56
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (479g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D800
Sports photography with Olympus E-500
73
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
excellent sensor resolution (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D800
Travel photography with Olympus E-500
66
weather sealing
excellent sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
52
lighter than competition in class (479g)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
MP count low (8 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D800 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
excellent sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
lack of image stabilization
43
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D800 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
30
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic port
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
9
can't shoot video
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Nikon D800 vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D800 and Olympus E-500
 Nikon D800Olympus E-500
General Information
Brand Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon D800 Olympus E-500
Also called - EVOLT E-500
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-06-11 2005-10-21
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixel 8 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 4:3
Highest Possible resolution 7360 x 4912 3264 x 2448
Maximum native ISO 6400 400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 51 3
Cross focus points 15 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 309 45
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 921k dot 215k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.45x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 900 gr (1.98 lb) 479 gr (1.06 lb)
Dimensions 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 95 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 25.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 2853 not tested
Other
Battery life 900 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL15 -
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots Dual 1
Retail cost $2,999 $600