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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-3
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Announced August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-5 and Sony A500, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-5 was revealed 18 months later than the A500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-5 scores against the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony A500

 E-5 A500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011August 2009More recent by 18 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus E-5

 A500 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony A500

 E-5 A500 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 has got exterior 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 Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-5 and Sony A500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-5 and the A500.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and A500 is 58 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at specifications. The photograph here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and A500.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses the exact same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The E-5 contains the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallower DOF tougher. The fresher E-5 is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A500 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
71
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Sony A500
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography factors
Sony A500 Travel photography factors
56
weather proof
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
43
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery (520 shots)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Sony A500
65
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
low MP (12MP)
no Time Lapse mode
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A500 Vlogging highlights
64
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
includes mic support
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
9
no video
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony A500
 Olympus E-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2011-02-03 2009-08-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 630g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 64
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 11.6
DXO Low light rating 519 772
Other
Battery life 870 images 520 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual 1
Price at launch $1,700 $638