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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Olympus E-500 front
Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-3
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
  • Launched October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-500, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and both of them are offered by Olympus. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and E-500 (8MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-5 was brought out 5 years after the E-500 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-5 scores vs the E-500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-500

 E-5 E-500 
LaunchedFebruary 2011October 2005Newer by 65 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k215kClearer display (+705k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus E-5

 E-500 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-500

 E-5 E-500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 comes with physical measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-500 has dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-5 vs the E-500.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and E-500 is 58 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking technical specs. The picture here may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and E-500.

As you have seen, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus E-5 to give greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher E-5 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-500 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
49
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low megapixels (8MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography information
Olympus E-500 Street photography information
71
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
57
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others (479g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (5.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-5
Travel photography with Olympus E-500
56
environment proofing
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
low resolution (12MP)
52
lighter than others (479g)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
has double storage slots
low resolution (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
43
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-500 Vlogging advice
64
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
does have external microphone port
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
9
no video
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-500
 Olympus E-5Olympus E-500
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-5 Olympus E-500
Also called as - EVOLT E-500
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2011-02-03 2005-10-21
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 8 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 3264 x 2448
Highest native ISO 6400 400
Highest enhanced ISO - 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 3
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 45
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 215 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.45x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 479g (1.06 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Card slots Two 1
Price at release $1,700 $600