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Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 II
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and RX100 (20MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and RX100 (1") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-500 was manufactured 7 years before the RX100 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-500 grades vs the RX100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony RX100

 E-500 RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Olympus E-500

 RX100 E-500 
IntroducedAugust 2012October 2005More modern by 83 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1229k215kClearer screen (+1014k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100

 E-500 RX100 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 provides exterior measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") along with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Sony RX100 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-500 compared to the RX100.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and RX100 is 70 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The picture underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and RX100.

To sum up, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-500 due to its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Sony RX100 will resolve more detail due to its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Sony RX100
48
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution low (8MP)
64
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography info
Sony RX100 Street photography info
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (479g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
79
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography information
Sony RX100 Sports photography information
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography details
Sony RX100 Travel photography details
52
lighter than average in class (479g)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
79
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
decent MP (20MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Sony RX100
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
lack of Timelapse recording
74
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Sony RX100 Vlogging details
9
can't record video
38
pretty wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100
 Olympus E-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Also called EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2005-10-21 2012-08-28
Physical type Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 400 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 215k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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) 240 grams (0.53 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 390
Other
Battery life - 330 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $600 $448