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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 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
  • Released October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GF3
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GF2, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and GF2 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was revealed 6 years prior to the GF2 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-500 scores vs the GF2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic GF2

 E-500 GF2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Olympus E-500

 GF2 E-500 
LaunchedFebruary 2011October 2005More recent by 65 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kClearer display (+245k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GF2

 E-500 GF2 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 comes with external 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) whilst the Panasonic GF2 has specifications of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GF2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-500 and the GF2.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and GF2 is 70 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over specifications. The visual underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and GF2.

Plainly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic GF2 to offer you more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography factors
48
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
megapixel count low (8MP)
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
65
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography details
Panasonic GF2 Sports photography details
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF2 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (8MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
52
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF2
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Timelapse function
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
32
touchscreen
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GF2
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Alternate name EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2005-10-21 2011-02-24
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
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 8MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 grams (1.06 pounds) 310 grams (0.68 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 54
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.3
DXO Low light score not tested 506
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $600 $330