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Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Samsung MV800 front
Portability
97
Imaging
39
Features
43
Overall
40

Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 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
  • Announced October 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Samsung MV800
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 121g - 92 x 56 x 10mm
  • Launched September 2011
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Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-500 and Samsung MV800, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Samsung. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and MV800 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and MV800 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-500 was revealed 6 years prior to the MV800 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Samsung MV800 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-500 matches up vs the MV800 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Samsung MV800

 E-500 MV800 
Manually focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Samsung MV800 over the Olympus E-500

 MV800 E-500 
LaunchedSeptember 2011October 2005Fresher by 71 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k215kClearer screen (+245k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Samsung MV800

 E-500 MV800 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 has got outside dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Samsung MV800 has specifications of 92mm x 56mm x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-500 and Samsung MV800 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-500 and the MV800.

Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and MV800 is 70 and 97 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and MV800.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-500 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Samsung MV800 will show extra detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-500 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography features
Samsung MV800 Portrait photography features
48
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (8MP)
34
good MP (16MP)
offers face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Samsung MV800 Street photography details
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than average (479 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (121g)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Samsung MV800 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
44
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography info
Samsung MV800 Travel photography info
52
lighter than average (479 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (8 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition in class (121g)
features touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (26mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography factors
Samsung MV800 Landscape photography factors
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
lack of Timelapse recording
43
relatively wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging highlights
Samsung MV800 Vlogging highlights
9
can't record video
34
relatively wide (26mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-500 vs Samsung MV800 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Samsung MV800
 Olympus E-500Samsung MV800
General Information
Brand Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus E-500 Samsung MV800
Also called EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2005-10-21 2011-09-01
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 400 3200
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 215k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.20 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30/15 fps), 640 x 480 (30/15 fps), 320 x 240 (30/15 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 pounds) 121 gr (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 92 x 56 x 10mm (3.6" x 2.2" x 0.4")
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 model - BP70
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Micro SD
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $600 $499