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Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33

Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-510
Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-500 versus Sony HX1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-500 (8MP) and the HX1 (9MP) is relatively similar but the E-500 (Four Thirds) and HX1 (1/2.4") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was launched 4 years prior to the HX1 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-500 matches up vs the HX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony HX1

 E-500 HX1 

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Olympus E-500

 HX1 E-500 
RevealedApril 2009October 2005More modern by 42 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony HX1

 E-500 HX1 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 offers exterior dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Sony HX1 has specifications of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-500 versus Sony HX1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-500 against the HX1.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and HX1 is 70 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The image underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and HX1.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-500 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Sony HX1 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
Sony HX1 Portrait photography info
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
low megapixels (8MP)
27
focusing manually
no external flash support
low megapixels (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
56
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than average (479g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
heavier than competition (544g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX1 as a Sports photography camera
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
36
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography factors
Sony HX1 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than average (479g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
48
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (544 grams)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Sony HX1
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Timelapse recording
39
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Sony HX1 Vlogging details
9
no video recording
22
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1440 x 1080 pxls)
lack of external mic support
heavier than competition (544 grams)
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony HX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony HX1
 Olympus E-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Alternate name EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2005-10-21 2009-04-22
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 9 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 3456 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 400 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.20 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1440x1080
Video file format - H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lb) 544 grams (1.20 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $600 $47,999