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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Renewed by Olympus E-510
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Replaced the Sony A380
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and A390 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and A390 (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was brought out 5 years before the A390 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-500 scores against the A390 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony A390

 E-500 A390 

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus E-500

 A390 E-500 
ReleasedJuly 2010October 2005More modern by 58 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony A390

 E-500 A390 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 comes with physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-500 against the A390.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and A390 is 70 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The picture underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and A390.

To sum up, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-500 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony A390 will show more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A390 as a Portrait photography camera
49
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
MP count low (8 megapixels)
72
manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography highlights
Sony A390 Street photography highlights
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than average (479g)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
76
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography details
Sony A390 Sports photography details
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Sony A390
52
lighter than average (479g)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
MP count low (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
53
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (230 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography information
Sony A390 Landscape photography information
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
does not have Timelapse recording
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inches)
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Sony A390 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony A390
 Olympus E-500Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Also called as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2005-10-21 2010-07-28
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 400 3200
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 215k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic input
Headphone input
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 gr (1.06 lb) 549 gr (1.21 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life - 230 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $500