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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus PEN-F front
Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Released October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus PEN-F, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and PEN-F (20MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was released 11 years before the PEN-F which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-500 matches up against the PEN-F in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus PEN-F

 E-500 PEN-F 

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus E-500

 PEN-F E-500 
IntroducedJanuary 2016October 2005Newer by 125 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k215kClearer screen (+822k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus PEN-F

 E-500 PEN-F 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. 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) while the Olympus PEN-F has dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus PEN-F in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-500 against the PEN-F.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and PEN-F is 70 and 84 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The picture below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and PEN-F.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Olympus PEN-F to render more detail as a result of its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have liveview
low MP (8MP)
75
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Olympus PEN-F
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
84
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Sports photography camera
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
bad battery power (330 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography details
Olympus PEN-F Travel photography details
52
lighter than competitors in class (479 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low MP (8 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
75
has touch to focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery power (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography info
Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography info
43
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5")
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
does not have Time Lapse mode
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
bad battery power (330 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Olympus PEN-F Vlogging features
9
no video shooting
78
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus PEN-F Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus PEN-F
 Olympus E-500Olympus PEN-F
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-500 Olympus PEN-F
Also referred to as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2005-10-21 2016-01-27
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VII
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 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 400 25600
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 215 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.62x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lbs) 427g (0.94 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 894
Other
Battery life - 330 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $600 $1,000