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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-510
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Released January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus SZ-16 iHS, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-500 was announced 8 years before the SZ-16 iHS which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-500 grades versus the SZ-16 iHS in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-500 SZ-16 iHS 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus E-500

 SZ-16 iHS E-500 
ReleasedJanuary 2013October 2005More modern by 87 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k215kSharper screen (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-500 SZ-16 iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has got physical dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus SZ-16 iHS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-500 and the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and SZ-16 iHS is 70 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by reading specifications. The image underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and SZ-16 iHS.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-500 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will offer more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography highlights
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
35
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography information
56
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than average (479g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography info
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography info
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
42
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography information
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography information
52
lighter than average (479g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography advice
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
no Timelapse function
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery life (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging features
9
lack of video recording
31
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus E-500Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-500 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2005-10-21 2013-01-08
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 215 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 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), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 220 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $230