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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Updated by Panasonic GH3
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

Following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GH2, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and GH2 (16MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-500 was brought out 6 years prior to the GH2 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-500 grades vs the GH2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic GH2

 E-500 GH2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-500

 GH2 E-500 
AnnouncedMarch 2011October 2005More modern by 65 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k215kClearer screen (+245k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GH2

 E-500 GH2 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 has got exterior 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) and the Panasonic GH2 has measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GH2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-500 against the GH2.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and GH2 is 70 and 70 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specifications. The pic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and GH2.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic GH2 to give you greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography information
48
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (8 megapixels)
70
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (479g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
68
fully articulated screen
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Panasonic GH2
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
46
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (479g)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low MP (8MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
62
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (330 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography info
43
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (330 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GH2 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
71
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic support
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Alternative name EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2005-10-21 2011-03-23
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 215k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter 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) 15.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Highest 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 lb) 442 gr (0.97 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 60
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 655
Other
Battery life - 330 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $600 $1,000