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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
55
Features
76
Overall
63

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 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
  • Announced October 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Renewed by Olympus E-510
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL9
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus E-PL8, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are produced by Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and E-PL8 (16MP) but they come with the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was announced 12 years prior to the E-PL8 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-500 matches up against the E-PL8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus E-PL8

 E-500 E-PL8 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Olympus E-500

 E-PL8 E-500 
ReleasedSeptember 2016October 2005Fresher by 132 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1037k215kSharper display (+822k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-PL8

 E-500 E-PL8 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 enjoys exterior dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL8 has sizing of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus E-PL8 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-500 and the E-PL8.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and E-PL8 is 70 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing just by reviewing specs. The photograph here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and E-PL8.

All in all, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus E-PL8 to deliver greater detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography features
49
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (8MP)
73
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Street photography highlights
57
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (479g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Sports photography highlights
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL8 Travel photography information
52
lighter than average (479 grams)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
72
offers focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL8 Landscape photography details
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
missing Timelapse mode
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-PL8
 Olympus E-500Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2005-10-21 2016-09-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 400 25600
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 215k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lbs) 357 grams (0.79 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 350 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Retail price $600 $500