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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus E-PL9, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both created by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and E-PL9 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was manufactured 13 years before the E-PL9 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-500 matches up against the E-PL9 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus E-PL9

 E-500 E-PL9 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Olympus E-500

 E-PL9 E-500 
RevealedFebruary 2018October 2005More modern by 149 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k215kSharper display (+825k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-PL9

 E-500 E-PL9 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 comes with exterior dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL9 has sizing of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus E-PL9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-500 compared to the E-PL9.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and E-PL9 is 70 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by reading technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and E-PL9.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PL9 to offer you extra detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
49
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than others (479g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
84
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than others (479 grams)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (8MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
77
has bluetooth
offers focus by touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography details
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Timelapse function
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
9
no video recording
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus E-PL9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus E-PL9
 Olympus E-500Olympus PEN E-PL9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-500 Olympus PEN E-PL9
Alternate name EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2005-10-21 2018-02-08
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic VIII
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 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias 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 6400
Max boosted ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 121
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 215 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 8.6 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lbs) 380g (0.84 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5")
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 - 350 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $599