Olympus E-500 vs Sony RX100 III

Olympus E-500 vs. Sony RX100 III: A Thorough Hands-On Comparison for Discerning Photographers

Choosing between cameras nearly a decade apart in technology, design philosophy, and intended user experience is no trivial task. The Olympus E-500, announced in late 2005, epitomizes the traditional DSLR approach of its era - built for enthusiasts who prize physical ergonomics and interchangeable optics. Conversely, Sony’s RX100 III, released in 2014, offers an advanced large-sensor compact experience, blending portability with impressive imaging and video capabilities.

Having tested thousands of cameras over 15+ years, I’m excited to parse what each model brings to the table. This side-by-side comparison explores their tech specs, real-world performance across multiple photography genres, and overall value propositions. The aim? To help photo enthusiasts and professionals alike make an informed choice grounded in practical, on-the-ground insights.

Getting a Feel: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

The Olympus E-500 and Sony RX100 III come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The E-500 is a mid-size DSLR with an Olympus-branded Micro Four Thirds lens mount - relatively compact in its category but still substantial. The RX100 III is a pocketable large sensor compact with a fixed lens, designed for maximum portability.

Physically, the Olympus measures approximately 130 x 95 x 66 mm, weighing 479 grams, while the RX100 III is significantly smaller at 102 x 58 x 41 mm and lighter at 290 grams. Handling the E-500 reminds me of a classic enthusiast DSLR: confident grip, traditional button placement, and a reassuring heft that assures stability during manual focusing or slower shutter speeds. The RX100 III, however, invites a more nimble, on-the-fly shooting style - ideal for travel or street photographers who want less bulk without sacrificing image quality.

Looking at the control layout from above further underscores their design differences:

The Olympus carries dedicated dials for shutter speed and aperture along with a built-in flash that offers external flash support. The Sony opts for a more streamlined interface with pop-up flash and a customizable control ring on the lens, balancing quick adjustments with size constraints. The RX100 III’s tilting 3-inch, 1,229k-dot screen outclasses the fixed 2.5-inch, 215k-dot screen of the older Olympus in clarity and flexibility.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

While size and handling matter, image quality inevitably sways many buying decisions. Here’s where the cameras’ sensor designs reveal their respective eras and target uses.

Sensor Size and Resolution:
The Olympus hosts an 8-megapixel Four Thirds-sized CCD sensor (17.3 x 13 mm), a standard format for its class. The cropped sensor area is about 224.9mm². The Sony packs a punchier 20-megapixel 1” BSI-CMOS sensor (13.2 x 8.8 mm), with roughly 116.16mm² active sensor area. While the Four Thirds sensor is physically bigger than the RX100 III’s 1" sensor, advances in sensor design make Sony’s more modern back-illuminated CMOS more efficient, with better noise performance and dynamic range.

ISO & Noise:
The E-500 offers a native ISO range of 100-400, boosting up to 1600, but image noise becomes noticeable beyond 400. The RX100 III pushes native ISO up to 12800, with usable results up to 3200 in well-lit prints. Recent Sony sensor tech combined with the BIONZ X processor helps minimize noise, especially in low light, making the RX100 III a better choice for dim environments or night photography.

Dynamic Range & Color Depth:
Sony’s RX100 III impresses with a measured color depth of 22.4 stops and dynamic range around 12.3 EV, indicative of healthier tonal gradations, vital for landscapes or portraiture. The Olympus’s CCD sensor, while decent in its day, can feel limited when stretching shadows or highlights.

Both cameras capture RAW, allowing flexibility in post-production, but Sony’s 20MP files offer more detail for cropping and large prints. Olympus’s 8MP files suit web use or smaller prints but may show softness or noise when enlarged.

Autofocus, Speed & Performance - Catching the Decisive Moment

Autofocus systems and burst rates are critical if you photograph moving subjects or require precision manual control.

The Olympus E-500 relies on a 3-point phase-detection autofocus system, with selective AF modes but lacks face and tracking detection - a byproduct of its 2005 design era. Its continuous shooting is capped at 3 fps, and it doesn’t support live view or contrast detection AF, making manual focusing more common in challenging scenarios.

Conversely, the Sony RX100 III integrates a hybrid AF system with 25 focus points featuring contrast-detection, face detection, and reliable AF tracking for moving subjects. While physically smaller, its burst shooting peaks at 10 fps (albeit with AF locked on the first frame). This capability lends itself well to sports, wildlife, and street photography where speed and focus accuracy count.

Hotspots for autofocus usage include portraiture - where eye detection helps keep subjects sharp - and wildlife/sports, demanding fast, accurate AF. The RX100 III’s inclusion of face detection and AF tracking gives it a decisive edge here.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability Matters

Neither camera offers extensive weather sealing, waterproofing, or rugged build qualities common in modern prosumer models. The Olympus E-500 hails from a generation where robust DSLR shells were typical, though it wasn’t marketed explicitly as weather-resistant. Its polycarbonate plus magnesium alloy construction feels solid but not indestructible.

The RX100 III’s all-metal body balances sturdiness and pocket-sized portability but is comparatively delicate, with no weather sealing. If shooting in demanding, wet, or dusty locations, additional protective measures will be necessary for either.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing & Reviewing Shots

One of the evolutionary leaps from the Olympus E-500’s era to the RX100 III is the improvement in displays and viewfinders.

The E-500’s 2.5-inch fixed LCD offers basic review functions at just 215k dots. No live view mode limits composition options to optical viewfinder use, which covers 95% frame coverage at 0.45x magnification - a standard but middling spec by today’s measure.

Sony’s RX100 III features a 3-inch tilting LCD with a high-resolution 1,229k-dot count, great for precise manual focus and awkward-angle shooting. It also boasts a user-friendly electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 1440k-dot resolution and 100% coverage, making composition easier in bright daylight when LCD visibility falters. For photographers valuing flexible framing and immediate exposure previews, Sony’s interface is a clear winner.

Lens Ecosystem and Macro Performance

A significant advantage of the Olympus system is its Micro Four Thirds lens mount, affording compatibility with over 45 native lenses ranging from wide-angle to super-telephoto, including specialty macro optics. This flexibility ensures the E-500 can grow with a photographer’s needs, from landscapes to intricate close-ups.

In contrast, the RX100 III’s fixed 24-70mm equivalent zoom lens (f/1.8–2.8) brings notable image sharpness and wide apertures for its compact class but limits focal length versatility. It manages respectable macro focusing down to 5cm, allowing creative tight shots, yet it misses the precision and magnification range of dedicated macro lenses.

The lack of interchangeable lenses means the RX100 III prioritizes convenience but with inherent compromises for specialized photography genres.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

In terms of endurance, the Olympus E-500’s battery capacity data is sparse, but Canon G battery ratings from that era suggest average performance - around 300-400 shots per charge. The RX100 III states 320 shots per charge, which is fair for a compact, but in practice, EVF and screen use drain power more quickly. Both cameras rely on single-card slots: Olympus supports CompactFlash or xD cards, antiquated by today’s standards, whereas Sony uses standard SD/Memory Stick cards, simplifying storage logistics.

Connectivity-wise, the Olympus is uninspired - no wireless or Bluetooth support, just USB 2.0. The RX100 III, though lacking Bluetooth, has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, enabling seamless image transfer and remote shooting via Sony’s apps - an expected advantage for today’s on-the-go creatives.

Video Capabilities: From Static to Moving Frames

The E-500 represents an era before robust video in DSLRs. It simply lacks video recording abilities.

Sony’s RX100 III steps up with Full HD 1080p recording at various frame rates (60p, 60i, 24p), plus slow motion options at 120fps for 720p capture. It supports AVCHD, MPEG-4, and XAVC S codecs, delivering versatile video quality with impressive image stabilization - a must for handheld shooting. While no microphone/headphone jacks limit audio input options, the RX100 III provides richer hybrid photography and videography tools, suiting vloggers or casual filmmakers.

Performance Across Photography Genres

To put these capabilities to practical use, I assessed both cameras across various photography styles. This analysis is based on real-world field testing and reflects both mechanical performance and image outcomes.

Olympus E 500 screen back Sony RX100 III front Sony RX100 III screen back

Portrait Photography

Skin tones and bokeh quality are paramount here. The Olympus E-500’s Four Thirds sensor offers respectable portrait detail, and using fast prime lenses from its system lineup yields pleasing shallow depth-of-field and natural skin rendering. However, no face or eye detection AF means manual or selective focus is critical, increasing user effort.

Sony’s RX100 III produces crisp, flattering portraits thanks to its fast lens and 20-MP resolution. Face detection helps keep eyes tack-sharp, even on moving subjects, though its smaller sensor limits bokeh creaminess compared to larger sensor cameras. Still, for a compact, its portrait performance impresses.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution are key here. The Olympus E-500’s 8MP CCD sensor maxes out at 3264x2448 pixels - sufficient for web sharing and moderate-size prints but somewhat limited for large prints. It delivers natural colors but has narrower dynamic range, causing highlight clipping on bright skies.

RX100 III’s 20MP sensor shines with higher resolution and better dynamic range, revealing finer textures and better shadow detail in landscapes. Its wide-angle 24mm equivalent start point is suitable for vast scenes. The tilting screen aids composition from awkward angles.

Neither camera has weather sealing, so landscape shooting in harsh conditions requires caution.

Wildlife Photography

Speed and autofocus accuracy matter most. The Olympus’s 3-point AF and slow 3 fps continuous shooting hobbles its ability to track and capture fast-moving wildlife. Combined with limited ISO options, it’s less suited for spontaneous wildlife encounters.

Sony’s RX100 III autofocus performs admirably in daylight, and its 10 fps burst aids capturing fleeting moments. However, the lens’s maximum 70mm equivalent reach limits telephoto flexibility for distant subjects - though digital cropping remains an option given higher resolution.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife demands, the RX100 III’s AF tracking and faster frames per second make it preferable, though its small sensor and zoom range may constrain freezing fast action in variable lighting. Olympus may frustrate with slower response times.

Street Photography

Discretion, quick access, and portability matter here; the RX100 III excels. Its compact size, silent shutter options, and tilting screen let photographers navigate busy urban environments without intimidation factor or missed shots.

The Olympus E-500’s bulk and comparatively slower operation render it less ideal. Moreover, its optical viewfinder, though optically natural, risks revealing your shooting intent.

Macro Photography

Olympus’s system advantage reappears - the availability of dedicated macro lenses means greater magnification and precision focus control compared to the RX100 III’s limited 5cm minimum focus. For macro devotees, the E-500 system gives a practical edge.

Night and Astro Photography

The RX100 III’s wider ISO range and cleaner high-ISO performance deliver better night and astro shots, especially with its longer shutter options and good wide aperture lens. The Olympus’s ISO 400 limit and older sensor tech constrain usability under low light, causing rapid noise build-up.

Video Use

Clearly, for video enthusiasts, the RX100 III’s Full HD recording, stabilization, and frame rate flexibility are major pluses, whereas the Olympus falls flat with no video function.

Travel Photography

For all-around travel needs, the RX100 III’s compactness, Wi-Fi connectivity, and versatile zoom enable a “one bag” photography solution. Its battery life suffices for days of shooting with reasonable backup.

The E-500’s interchangeable lens system adds versatility but at a cost of weight, bulk, and more complex logistics - a worthy trade for some but inconvenient for casual travelers.

Professional Workflow & Reliability

The Olympus E-500’s support for raw files and classic DSLR interfaces appeals to workflow purists spending time in post-processing. However, lack of face detection AF, slower burst, and older connectivity may extend editing time.

The RX100 III’s raw file support, Wi-Fi integration, and easier sharing streamline workflows for professionals needing speed and mobility - albeit with compromises in lens interchangeability and weatherproofing.

Summarizing the Scores: Performance in a Nutshell

The Sony RX100 III clearly outperforms in almost all respects due to its newer sensor technology, autofocus system, and feature set. Olympus’s E-500 remains a competent system for budget-conscious photographers valuing an interchangeable lens system and classic DSLR experience.

Breakdown by Photography Genre

This visual encapsulates how each camera performs genre-wise, reinforcing where each model’s strengths lie.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

• If you prioritize compactness, speed, video features, and modern connectivity - the Sony RX100 III is an excellent, versatile choice. Its advanced sensor and autofocus make it suitable for street, travel, portrait, and even casual wildlife photography.

• If you seek an interchangeable lens system, prefer the DSLR shooting experience, and want access to a broad lens lineup - the Olympus E-500 offers good bang-for-buck, especially for macro, studio portrait, and landscape applications where absolute sensor speed and connectivity are less critical.

• For Landscape and Studio Portrait Photographers on a budget, the Olympus’s Four Thirds system lenses and larger sensor area afford higher artistic control.

• For Enthusiast Travelers, Street Shooters, and Hybrid Video/Photographers, the RX100 III’s technological strides deliver greater immediacy and flexibility.

Ultimately, choosing between these cameras is less about which one is “better” universally and more about which matches your photographic style, workflow preferences, and budget. Both remain solid options in their niches given proper expectations.

As always, I recommend hands-on trials if possible or rentals to familiarize yourself with controls and ergonomics before investing in either system. Each camera tells its own story once you get behind the controls, and I hope this comparison has shed light on which narrative suits you best.

Happy shooting!