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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-510
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

The following is a extended overview of the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic SZ7, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and SZ7 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-500 was unveiled 7 years prior to the SZ7 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-500 scores against the SZ7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic SZ7

 E-500 SZ7 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus E-500

 SZ7 E-500 
IntroducedJanuary 2012October 2005Newer by 75 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kClearer display (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic SZ7

 E-500 SZ7 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 features physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ7 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic SZ7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-500 compared to the SZ7.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and SZ7 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions purely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and SZ7.

Clearly, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic SZ7 will provide you with extra detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (8MP)
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ7 Street photography advice
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (133g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography factors
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography features
52
lighter than competition in class (479g)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
lighter than competition in class (133g)
good megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography advice
43
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
lack of Time Lapse mode
42
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ7 Vlogging information
9
no video recording
35
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (133 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Also called as EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2005-10-21 2012-01-09
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 215 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 lb) 133 gr (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 photos
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, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $600 $199