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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
46
Overall
43

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Olympus TG-870
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 21-105mm (F3.5-5.7) lens
  • 221g - 113 x 64 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus TG-860
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-500 and Olympus TG-870, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact and both are manufactured by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and TG-870 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and TG-870 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was introduced 11 years earlier than the TG-870 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus TG-870 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-500 scores vs the TG-870 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus TG-870

 E-500 TG-870 
Manually focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-870 over the Olympus E-500

 TG-870 E-500 
LaunchedJanuary 2016October 2005More modern by 124 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k215kClearer display (+706k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus TG-870

 E-500 TG-870 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has got external measurements 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 TG-870 has dimensions of 113mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 and Olympus TG-870 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-500 versus the TG-870.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and TG-870 is 70 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by researching specifications. The picture here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and TG-870.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-500 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus TG-870 will render more detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-870 as a Portrait photography camera
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
low megapixels (8MP)
36
MP count decent (16MP)
has face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Olympus TG-870 Street photography details
56
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (479 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
65
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than competition (221 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography info
Olympus TG-870 Sports photography info
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
51
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery life (300 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Olympus TG-870
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
great battery life (300 shots)
weather proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (21mm)
more heavy than competition (221g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus TG-870 Landscape photography highlights
43
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
missing Timelapse function
50
pretty wide (21mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
great battery life (300 shots)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging info
Olympus TG-870 Vlogging info
9
no video shooting
32
pretty wide (21mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (221g)
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-870 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus TG-870
 Olympus E-500Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870
Also called as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2005-10-21 2016-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 21-105mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-5.7
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 215 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m (at ISO 1600)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, off, LED illuminator
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (60p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 lbs) 221 gr (0.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 113 x 64 x 28mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.1")
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 - 300 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $600 $280