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Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-510
Sony WX5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
  • Released July 2010
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-500 and Sony WX5, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and WX5 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and WX5 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-500 was manufactured 5 years earlier than the WX5 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony WX5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-500 matches up against the WX5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony WX5

 E-500 WX5 
Manual focus Very precise focusing

Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Olympus E-500

 WX5 E-500 
ReleasedJuly 2010October 2005More recent by 57 months
Screen size2.8"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k215kCrisper screen (+246k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony WX5

 E-500 WX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 has physical 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 WX5 has measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-500 and Sony WX5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-500 versus the WX5.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and WX5 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and WX5.

As you have seen, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-500 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony WX5 will offer you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography info
Sony WX5 Portrait photography info
49
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography highlights
Sony WX5 Street photography highlights
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than average (479g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography details
Sony WX5 Sports photography details
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Sony WX5
52
lighter than average (479 grams)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
58
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography information
Sony WX5 Landscape photography information
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
missing Time Lapse mode
37
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (2.8 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
no manual mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Sony WX5
9
no video
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony WX5
 Olympus E-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2005-10-21 2010-07-08
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.4-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5" 2.8"
Display resolution 215k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 pounds) 146g (0.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC/ SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $600 $250