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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III

Portability
70 Imaging
41 Features
34 Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
Portability
67 Imaging
62 Features
96 Overall
75

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Revealed February 2020
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M1 II
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless and they are both manufactured by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and E-M1 III (20MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was launched 15 years earlier than the E-M1 III and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-500 scores against the E-M1 III with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus E-M1 III

		

		

			
 E-500 E-M1 III 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Olympus E-500

		

		

			
 E-M1 III E-500 
RevealedFebruary 2020October 2005Fresher by 174 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k215kCrisper screen (+822k dot)
Selfie screen  Take selfies
Touch screen  Quickly navigate
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-M1 III

		

		

			
 E-500 E-M1 III 
Manually focus  More accurate focusing
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III Physical Comparison

		

		

			
If you're going to carry your camera often, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 comes with outer measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Olympus E-M1 III has specifications of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).
See the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-500 and the E-M1 III.
Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III size comparison
Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and E-M1 III is 70 and 67 respectively.
Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The photograph below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and E-M1 III.
As you have seen, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus E-M1 III to give you more detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.
	
			Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
 Olympus E-M1 III as a Portrait photography camera
48
 you can focus manually
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 saves RAW files
 no liveview
 low MP (8MP)
77
 you can focus manually
 decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 comes with face detection focusing
 exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison
Olympus E-500 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-M1 III Street photography highlights
56
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 saves RAW files
 lighter than average (479 grams)
 no moving screen
 no image stabilization
 low max ISO (400)
78
 fully articulated screen
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW formats
 features focus via touch
 environment proof
 very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison
Olympus E-500 Sports photography details
Olympus E-M1 III Sports photography details
37
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 comes with phase detect AF
 no liveview
 slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
 no image stabilization
 low MP (8 megapixels)
81
 high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
 silent shooting (1/32,000s)
 max frames per second high (60.0 frames/s)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 comes with tracking autofocus
 environment proof
 supports phase detect AF
Photography Glossary
Travel Comparison
Olympus E-500 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-M1 III Travel photography advice
52
 lighter than average (479g)
 has built in flash
 does not have Timelapse recording
 low MP (8MP)
 screen isn't selfie friendly
79
 environment proof
 supports bluetooth
 features focus via touch
 decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
 selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison
 Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
 Olympus E-M1 III as a Landscape photography camera
43
 you can focus manually
 change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 saves RAW files
 small screen (2.5 inches)
 no liveview
 no image stabilization
 low MP (8 megapixels)
 low max ISO (400)
 does not have Timelapse recording
81
 you can focus manually
 swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 screen size is decent (3 inches)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
 good sensor size (Four Thirds)
 does not have anti aliasing filter
 very good high ISO (25,600)
 exports RAW formats
 environment proof
 has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-500 Vlogging advice
Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging advice
9
 can't record video
79
 selfie friendly display
 touchscreen
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 comes with face detection focusing
 high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
 comes with external mic port
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-M1 III Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-M1 III
 Olympus E-500Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-500 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Alternate name EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2005-10-21 2020-02-11
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic IX
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 400 25600
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support    
Lowest boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
Autofocus touch    
Autofocus continuous    
Single autofocus    
Tracking autofocus    
Autofocus selectice    
Center weighted autofocus    
Multi area autofocus    
Live view autofocus    
Face detection focus    
Contract detection focus    
Phase detection focus    
Total focus points 3 121
Cross type focus points - 121
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 215k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per sec 60.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure    
Average exposure    
Spot exposure    
Partial exposure    
AF area exposure    
Center weighted exposure    
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 4096x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack    
Headphone jack    
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lbs) 580 grams (1.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 420 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLH-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting    
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot)
Storage slots 1 2
Cost at launch $600 $1,800