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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 front
Portability
72
Imaging
48
Features
60
Overall
52

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 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
  • Launched October 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Panasonic G2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 428g - 124 x 84 x 74mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Old Model is Panasonic G1
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G3
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and G2 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the G2 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic G2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-500 matches up vs the G2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic G2

 E-500 G2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G2 over the Olympus E-500

 G2 E-500 
IntroducedJuly 2010October 2005More modern by 57 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kCrisper display (+245k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic G2

 E-500 G2 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-500 has got external 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) while the Panasonic G2 has proportions of 124mm x 84mm x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9") and a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-500 compared to the G2.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and G2 is 70 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The picture below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and G2.

To sum up, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic G2 to give more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Panasonic G2
49
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
MP count low (8 megapixels)
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography factors
Panasonic G2 Street photography factors
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than others (479g)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
65
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (428g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography information
Panasonic G2 Sports photography information
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography factors
Panasonic G2 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than others (479g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
MP count low (8 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
58
features focus by touch
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (428 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic G2 Landscape photography advice
43
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Timelapse recording
57
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Panasonic G2 Vlogging details
9
can't shoot video
61
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
includes face detect focus
comes with microphone socket
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
more heavy than competitors (428 grams)
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic G2
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Also called EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2005-10-21 2010-07-12
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 215k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 11.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - AVCHD Lite, Motion JPEG
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 pounds) 428 gr (0.94 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 124 x 84 x 74mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 53
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.3
DXO Low light score not tested 493
Other
Battery life - 360 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $600 $1,000