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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus TG-630 iHS front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS 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
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Olympus TG-630 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 66 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-500 and Olympus TG-630 iHS, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Waterproof and both of them are sold by Olympus. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and TG-630 iHS (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and TG-630 iHS (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was manufactured 8 years earlier than the TG-630 iHS and that is a fairly big 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 TG-630 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-500 matches up versus the TG-630 iHS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus TG-630 iHS

 E-500 TG-630 iHS 
Focus manually More accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-630 iHS over the Olympus E-500

 TG-630 iHS E-500 
RevealedJanuary 2013October 2005Fresher by 87 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kSharper display (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus TG-630 iHS

 E-500 TG-630 iHS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has exterior dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Olympus TG-630 iHS has dimensions of 98mm x 66mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 and Olympus TG-630 iHS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-500 vs the TG-630 iHS.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and TG-630 iHS is 70 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and TG-630 iHS.

As you can plainly see, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-500 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus TG-630 iHS will provide extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older E-500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
27
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Olympus TG-630 iHS
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (479g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-630 iHS Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (220 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography factors
Olympus TG-630 iHS Travel photography factors
52
lighter than competition (479g)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (8MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
59
environment sealing
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
Olympus TG-630 iHS Landscape photography advice
43
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
lack of Timelapse recording
39
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Olympus TG-630 iHS Vlogging features
9
can't record video
33
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus TG-630 iHS
 Olympus E-500Olympus TG-630 iHS
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus TG-630 iHS
Other name EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Launched 2005-10-21 2013-01-08
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD 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 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.9-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 215k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
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 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 98 x 66 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9")
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 - 220 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $600 $200