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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 front
Portability
69
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Panasonic G85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-G80
  • Successor is Panasonic G95
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 Overview

The following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic G85, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and G85 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was brought out 12 years before the G85 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera 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 G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-500 scores against the G85 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic G85

 E-500 G85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Olympus E-500

 G85 E-500 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016October 2005Newer by 132 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k215kCrisper screen (+825k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic G85

 E-500 G85 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-500 features outside 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 Panasonic G85 has proportions of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") along with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic G85 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-500 against the G85.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and G85 is 70 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by seeing technical specs. The image here will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and G85.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Panasonic G85 to provide greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic G85 as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
72
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Panasonic G85
56
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (479g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
77
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch focus
weather proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Panasonic G85
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
64
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proof
not so great battery power (330 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Panasonic G85
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
weather proof
includes touch focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic G85 as a Landscape photography camera
43
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.5")
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
does not have Time Lapse mode
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
not so great battery power (330 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Panasonic G85 Vlogging features
9
no video recording
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic port
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic G85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic G85
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-G80
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2005-10-21 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 400 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 215 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.20 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 pounds) 505 grams (1.11 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 71
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 656
Other
Battery life - 330 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $600 $900