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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus SP-800 UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus SP-800 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 3200 (Bump to 1000)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-840mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Announced February 2010
  • Updated by Olympus SP-810 UZ
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SP-800 UZ, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Olympus. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and SP-800 UZ (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was brought out 5 years before the SP-800 UZ which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-500 grades against the SP-800 UZ in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus SP-800 UZ

 E-500 SP-800 UZ 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-800 UZ over the Olympus E-500

 SP-800 UZ E-500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2010October 2005Newer by 52 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SP-800 UZ

 E-500 SP-800 UZ 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 comes with outer 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) while the Olympus SP-800 UZ has measurements of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") along with a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SP-800 UZ 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 based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-500 against the SP-800 UZ.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and SP-800 UZ is 70 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and SP-800 UZ.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus SP-800 UZ will resolve extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
Olympus SP-800 UZ Portrait photography info
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (8MP)
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography features
Olympus SP-800 UZ Street photography features
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (479g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
46
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Olympus SP-800 UZ
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow fps (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
47
long zoom range (28-840mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SP-800 UZ as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competitors (479 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (8MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
61
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very long zoom (840mm)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SP-800 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
does not have Timelapse recording
41
decently wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SP-800 UZ Vlogging highlights
9
can't shoot video
24
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-800 UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus SP-800 UZ
 Olympus E-500Olympus SP-800 UZ
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus SP-800 UZ
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2005-10-21 2010-02-02
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 1000
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 143
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-840mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.6
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 215k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 12 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lb) 455 grams (1.00 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6")
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 model - Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $270