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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP 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
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Other Name is mju 550WP
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are created by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-500 (8MP) and the 550WP (10MP) is pretty similar but the E-500 (Four Thirds) and 550WP (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-500 was launched 4 years prior to the 550WP and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus 550WP being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-500 scores against the 550WP in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus 550WP

 E-500 550WP 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Olympus E-500

 550WP E-500 
IntroducedJanuary 2009October 2005More recent by 39 months
Screen resolution230k215kCrisper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus 550WP

 E-500 550WP 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.5"2.5"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 enjoys physical dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Olympus 550WP has sizing of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-500 compared to the 550WP.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and 550WP is 70 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and 550WP.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-500 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus 550WP will offer more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Olympus 550WP
48
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
MP count low (8 megapixels)
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography info
Olympus 550WP Street photography info
56
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
61
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Olympus 550WP
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
30
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Olympus 550WP
52
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
MP count low (8MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
55
weather proofing
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
Olympus 550WP Landscape photography advice
43
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
missing Timelapse mode
30
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5")
lack of manual exposure
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Olympus 550WP Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
25
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus 550WP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus 550WP
 Olympus E-500Olympus Stylus 550WP
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-500 Olympus Stylus 550WP
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 mju 550WP
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2005-10-21 2009-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 38-114mm (3.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.0
Macro focusing distance - 7cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 215k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec -
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, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $600 $399