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Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 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
  • Launched October 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-510
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Introduced September 2014
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-500 and Sony QX30, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Lens-style by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and QX30 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was launched 9 years prior to the QX30 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-500 scores versus the QX30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony QX30

 E-500 QX30 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display sizing2.5""Larger display (+2.5")
Display resolution215k0kSharper display (+215k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Olympus E-500

 QX30 E-500 
IntroducedSeptember 2014October 2005More recent by 107 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony QX30

 E-500 QX30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 comes with physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has sizing of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 and Sony QX30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-500 compared to the QX30.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and QX30 is 70 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching technical specs. The graphic here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and QX30.

As you have seen, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-500 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Sony QX30 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older E-500 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography details
Sony QX30 Portrait photography details
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
resolution not great (8MP)
38
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography factors
Sony QX30 Street photography factors
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
62
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography advice
Sony QX30 Sports photography advice
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
slow fps (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
47
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography features
Sony QX30 Travel photography features
52
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
65
comes with focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery life (200 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony QX30 Landscape photography highlights
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
missing Time Lapse mode
39
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small ( inches)
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging information
Sony QX30 Vlogging information
9
no video
35
really wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony QX30
 Olympus E-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Also referred to as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Lens-style
Launched 2005-10-21 2014-09-03
Physical type Mid-size SLR Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 400 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" -
Resolution of screen 215k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye None
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 lbs) 193g (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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 life - 200 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $600 $348