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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 front
Portability
58
Imaging
51
Features
58
Overall
53

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Sony A700
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 768g - 142 x 105 x 80mm
  • Announced December 2007
  • Replaced the Konica Minolta 7D
  • Updated by Sony A77
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-500 versus Sony A700, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and A700 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and A700 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was launched 3 years before the A700 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-500 scores vs the A700 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony A700

 E-500 A700 

Reasons to pick Sony A700 over the Olympus E-500

 A700 E-500 
AnnouncedDecember 2007October 2005Newer by 26 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k215kCrisper display (+705k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony A700

 E-500 A700 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 offers external measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Sony A700 has measurements of 142mm x 105mm x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 768 grams (1.69 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 versus Sony A700 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-500 against the A700.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and A700 is 70 and 58 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The pic underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and A700.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A700 will give extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A700 Portrait photography highlights
49
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low MP (8 megapixels)
54
you can focus manually
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography factors
Sony A700 Street photography factors
57
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
64
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography advice
Sony A700 Sports photography advice
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
56
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography information
Sony A700 Travel photography information
52
lighter than competitors in class (479 grams)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (8MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
49
weather proofing
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
Sony A700 Landscape photography details
43
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
missing Time Lapse recording
62
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
two card slots
no liveview
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging highlights
Sony A700 Vlogging highlights
9
can't record video
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A700 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony A700
 Olympus E-500Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-500 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Alternate name EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2005-10-21 2007-12-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 215k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.6x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, rear curtain, Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Max video resolution None None
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lb) 768g (1.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 142 x 105 x 80mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 581
Other
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Card slots 1 Dual
Retail price $600 $1,000