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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus VG-160 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
26
Overall
33

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Olympus VG-160
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus VG-160, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Olympus. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and VG-160 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and VG-160 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was launched 7 years before the VG-160 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus VG-160 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-500 matches up versus the VG-160 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus VG-160

 E-500 VG-160 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-160 over the Olympus E-500

 VG-160 E-500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012October 2005More recent by 75 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k215kSharper display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus VG-160

 E-500 VG-160 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 offers physical dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Olympus VG-160 has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus VG-160 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-500 and the VG-160.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and VG-160 is 70 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and VG-160.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-500 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus VG-160 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography advice
Olympus VG-160 Portrait photography advice
49
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low MP (8 megapixels)
34
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VG-160 as a Street photography camera
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
56
lighter than competition in class (125g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography factors
Olympus VG-160 Sports photography factors
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
27
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (165 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography highlights
Olympus VG-160 Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than competitors in class (479 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery (165 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus VG-160 as a Landscape photography camera
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
37
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery (165 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Olympus VG-160 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
30
rather wide (26mm)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (125g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VG-160 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus VG-160
 Olympus E-500Olympus VG-160
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-500 Olympus VG-160
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2005-10-21 2012-01-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.5
Macro focusing range - 7cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 215k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 pounds) 125g (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Battery life - 165 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - LI-70B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $600 $90