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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Olympus VR-320 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Olympus VR-320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-300mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 101 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Updated by Olympus VR-330
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus VR-320, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and VR-320 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and VR-320 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The E-500 was unveiled 6 years prior to the VR-320 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus VR-320 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-500 grades versus the VR-320 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Olympus VR-320

 E-500 VR-320 
Focus manually Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus VR-320 over the Olympus E-500

 VR-320 E-500 
AnnouncedJuly 2011October 2005More recent by 69 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k215kClearer screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Olympus VR-320

 E-500 VR-320 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 offers outer dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Olympus VR-320 has specifications of 101mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus E-500 versus Olympus VR-320 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-500 and the VR-320.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and VR-320 is 70 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading specs. The photograph underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and VR-320.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-500 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus VR-320 will offer extra detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Olympus VR-320
48
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have liveview
MP count low (8 megapixels)
33
good megapixels (14MP)
provides face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Olympus VR-320 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (479g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
62
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (158 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus VR-320 as a Sports photography camera
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
47
great zoom range (24-300mm 12.5 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography advice
Olympus VR-320 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than others in class (479 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (8MP)
display is not selfie friendly
70
lighter than competition (158g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography info
Olympus VR-320 Landscape photography info
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
does not have Time Lapse mode
42
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Olympus VR-320
9
no video
32
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competition (158g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus E-500 vs Olympus VR-320 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Olympus VR-320
 Olympus E-500Olympus VR-320
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-500 Olympus VR-320
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2005-10-21 2011-07-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 8 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 400 1600
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-300mm (12.5x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 215k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder 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 speed 3.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.70 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 gr (1.06 pounds) 158 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 101 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 model - LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $179