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Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • New Model is Sony A6000
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-500 versus Sony NEX-6, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and NEX-6 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and NEX-6 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was announced 8 years earlier than the NEX-6 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-500 matches up against the NEX-6 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony NEX-6

 E-500 NEX-6 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Olympus E-500

 NEX-6 E-500 
LaunchedMarch 2013October 2005More recent by 90 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k215kClearer display (+706k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony NEX-6

 E-500 NEX-6 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 provides outer dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-6 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 versus Sony NEX-6 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-500 and the NEX-6.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and NEX-6 is 70 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to see the gap between sensor measurements just by checking specifications. The photograph underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and NEX-6.

Plainly, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-500 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony NEX-6 will give you more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography info
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (8MP)
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Sony NEX-6 Street photography details
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (479 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
78
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (345 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Sports photography camera
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
66
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-6 Travel photography info
52
lighter than others in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
MP count low (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
75
lighter than competitors in class (345 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-6
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
lack of Timelapse function
75
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging information
Sony NEX-6 Vlogging information
9
no video recording
32
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (345 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing mic port
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony NEX-6
 Olympus E-500Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Also called as EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2005-10-21 2013-03-25
Body design Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
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 8MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 400 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 99
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 45 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 215 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 479g (1.06 pounds) 345g (0.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1018
Other
Battery life - 360 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $600 $365