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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 front
Portability
66
Imaging
50
Features
38
Overall
45

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 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
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Sony A200
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 572g - 131 x 99 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2008
  • Successor is Sony A230
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-500 (8MP) and the A200 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the E-500 (Four Thirds) and A200 (APS-C) come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was announced 3 years prior to the A200 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A200 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-500 grades versus the A200 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony A200

 E-500 A200 

Reasons to pick Sony A200 over the Olympus E-500

 A200 E-500 
IntroducedJuly 2008October 2005Newer by 33 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k215kCrisper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony A200

 E-500 A200 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 has external measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Sony A200 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 2.8") having a weight of 572 grams (1.26 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-500 against the A200.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and A200 is 70 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The image underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and A200.

All in all, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A200 will resolve more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Sony A200
49
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
low MP (8 megapixels)
54
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Sony A200
57
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (479g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Sony A200
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
50
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A200 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competitors (479g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low MP (8 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
46
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A200 as a Landscape photography camera
43
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
doesn't have Timelapse function
54
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
doesn't have liveview
megapixel count low (10MP)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A200 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A200 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony A200
 Olympus E-500Sony Alpha DSLR-A200
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200
Also referred to as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2005-10-21 2008-07-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 400 3200
Highest boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 2.7"
Display resolution 215k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.55x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lb) 572 grams (1.26 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 131 x 99 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 521
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $600 $100