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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR 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
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed February 2012
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and SZ-31MR iHS (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was manufactured 7 years prior to the SZ-31MR iHS and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-500 grades vs the SZ-31MR iHS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 E-500 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Olympus E-500

 SZ-31MR iHS E-500 
RevealedFebruary 2012October 2005Fresher by 76 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k215kCrisper screen (+705k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 E-500 SZ-31MR iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 offers physical dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-500 vs the SZ-31MR iHS.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and SZ-31MR iHS is 70 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching technical specs. The graphic underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and SZ-31MR iHS.

As you can tell, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-500 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS will result in extra detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-500 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography information
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Portrait photography information
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (8 megapixels)
34
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Street photography highlights
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers focus by touch
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Sports photography camera
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
44
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
low MP (8MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
67
lighter than others in class (226g)
offers focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Landscape photography highlights
43
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
doesn't have Timelapse function
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
35
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (226g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Olympus E-500Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-500 Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2005-10-21 2012-02-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Dual TruePic V
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
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)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 215 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max 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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 - 200 images
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 feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $0