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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL1s
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both built by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and E-PL1 (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was manufactured 5 years before the E-PL1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-500 matches up versus the E-PL1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus E-PL1

 E-500 E-PL1 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus E-500

 E-PL1 E-500 
RevealedMay 2010October 2005More modern by 55 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kSharper display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-PL1

 E-500 E-PL1 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-500 features physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL1 has proportions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-500 compared to the E-PL1.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and E-PL1 is 70 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out specifications. The pic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and E-PL1.

Plainly, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Olympus E-PL1 to show greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography info
48
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (8 megapixels)
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL1 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average (479 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
74
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
44
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
52
lighter than average (479 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
MP count low (8MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL1
43
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview
no image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low MP (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
9
no video recording
29
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-PL1
 Olympus E-500Olympus PEN E-PL1
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Other name EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2005-10-21 2010-05-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Truepic V
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 400 3200
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 215 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
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)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 pounds) 334 gr (0.74 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 54
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 487
Other
Battery life - 290 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $288