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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 front
Portability
90
Imaging
53
Features
66
Overall
58

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Panasonic GF7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF6
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF8
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic GF7, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and GF7 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-500 was released 10 years prior to the GF7 which is quite a serious difference 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 GF7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-500 matches up against the GF7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic GF7

 E-500 GF7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF7 over the Olympus E-500

 GF7 E-500 
LaunchedFebruary 2015October 2005Newer by 113 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k215kClearer screen (+825k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GF7

 E-500 GF7 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has exterior dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Panasonic GF7 has dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic GF7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-500 vs the GF7.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and GF7 is 70 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading specifications. The image below may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and GF7.

Plainly, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic GF7 to offer more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF7
48
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
65
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Panasonic GF7 Street photography details
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (479g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography information
Panasonic GF7 Sports photography information
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max fps low (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
51
max shutter speed is good (1/16,000s)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (5.8 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF7 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
boasts touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF7
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
does not have Timelapse function
69
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery pack (230 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Panasonic GF7
9
can't record video
33
touchscreen enabled
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GF7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GF7
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2005-10-21 2015-02-01
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 400 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
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
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 215k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 5.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lb) 266 grams (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 230 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $600 $308