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Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Sony RX100 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Replaced the Sony RX100
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 III
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100 II, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and RX100 II (20MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and RX100 II (1") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-500 was revealed 8 years prior to the RX100 II which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-500 matches up against the RX100 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony RX100 II

 E-500 RX100 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 II over the Olympus E-500

 RX100 II E-500 
AnnouncedJune 2013October 2005Newer by 93 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1229k215kCrisper display (+1014k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100 II

 E-500 RX100 II 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 features physical 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 II has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100 II in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-500 compared to the RX100 II.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and RX100 II is 70 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing technical specs. The image underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and RX100 II.

As you can tell, both the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony RX100 II will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 12MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography information
Sony RX100 II Portrait photography information
49
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
70
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Sony RX100 II Street photography details
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors (479 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (281 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 II Sports photography factors
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 II Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than competitors (479g)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
80
better than average battery power (350 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (281g)
decent MP (20MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 II as a Landscape photography camera
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
lack of Time Lapse mode
74
focusing manually
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (350 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging factors
Sony RX100 II Vlogging factors
9
can't shoot video
37
pretty wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (281 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100 II
 Olympus E-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Also called EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2005-10-21 2013-06-27
Body design 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 8 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 400 12800
Highest boosted ISO 1600 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
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 mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 215k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 479 gr (1.06 lb) 281 gr (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 483
Other
Battery life - 350 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch price $600 $598