Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100
70 Imaging
41 Features
34 Overall
38


63 Imaging
40 Features
48 Overall
43
Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-500 & Olympus Stylus SP-100. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-500 Gallery & Olympus SP-100 Gallery.
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2014 | ![]() | October 2005 | More recent by 100 months |
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.5") |
Display resolution | 460k | ![]() | 215k | Crisper display (+245k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus SP-100
E-500 | SP-100 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus SP-100 Specifications
Olympus E-500 | Olympus 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 |