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Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Alpha QX1 front
Portability
90
Imaging
63
Features
48
Overall
57

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-510
Sony QX1
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 216g - 74 x 70 x 53mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Lens-style by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and QX1 (20MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and QX1 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-500 was introduced 9 years prior to the QX1 which is quite a large difference 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 QX1 being a Lens-style camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-500 scores versus the QX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony QX1

 E-500 QX1 
Screen sizing2.5""Bigger screen (+2.5")
Screen resolution215k0kSharper screen (+215k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX1 over the Olympus E-500

 QX1 E-500 
LaunchedSeptember 2014October 2005More modern by 107 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony QX1

 E-500 QX1 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 enjoys physical 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 QX1 has measurements of 74mm x 70mm x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1") and a weight of 216 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the E-500 and the QX1.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and QX1 is 70 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through technical specs. The picture here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and QX1.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-500 using its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony QX1 will resolve more detail using its extra 12MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography features
Sony QX1 Portrait photography features
48
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
low resolution sensor (8MP)
66
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Sony QX1
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than others (479g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
69
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (216g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography details
Sony QX1 Sports photography details
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
56
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good battery power (440 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX1 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than others (479g)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
good battery power (440 CIPA)
includes focus by touch
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (216 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography features
Sony QX1 Landscape photography features
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
no Time Lapse function
64
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (440 shots)
tiny screen (")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Sony QX1 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
32
screen is touchscreen
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (216g)
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony QX1
 Olympus E-500Sony Alpha QX1
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-500 Sony Alpha QX1
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Lens-style
Launched 2005-10-21 2014-09-03
Body design Mid-size SLR Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 400 16000
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.6
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" -
Resolution of display 215 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Off, auto, fill, slow sync, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lbs) 216g (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 74 x 70 x 53mm (2.9" x 2.8" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 440 pictures
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $600 $500