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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
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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