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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Launched January 2014
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and SP-100 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and SP-100 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The E-500 was unveiled 9 years prior to the SP-100 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-500 scores vs the SP-100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus SP-100

 E-500 SP-100 

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Olympus E-500

 SP-100 E-500 
LaunchedJanuary 2014October 2005More recent by 100 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kCrisper display (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SP-100

 E-500 SP-100 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 enjoys 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) and the Olympus SP-100 has dimensions of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the E-500 against the SP-100.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and SP-100 is 70 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements merely by researching technical specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and SP-100.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-500 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus SP-100 will provide you with more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SP-100 as a Portrait photography camera
48
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
low MP (8 megapixels)
44
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detect focus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography factors
Olympus SP-100 Street photography factors
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (479g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
42
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
heavier than average (594g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Olympus SP-100
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
53
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography highlights
Olympus SP-100 Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (8MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
53
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (594 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
Olympus SP-100 Landscape photography details
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
missing Time Lapse function
47
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Olympus SP-100
9
no video shooting
29
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic jack
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than average (594 grams)
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus SP-100
 Olympus E-500Olympus Stylus SP-100
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus Stylus SP-100
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2005-10-21 2014-01-29
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.9-6.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 920 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off
Hot shoe
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
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 pounds) 594 grams (1.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life - 330 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $600 $400