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Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 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
  • Announced October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Sony WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-500 and Sony WX50, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and WX50 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and WX50 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was introduced 7 years before the WX50 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony WX50 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-500 grades vs the WX50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony WX50

 E-500 WX50 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Olympus E-500

 WX50 E-500 
RevealedJanuary 2012October 2005More modern by 76 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution461k215kCrisper screen (+246k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony WX50

 E-500 WX50 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has physical measurements 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 WX50 has dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-500 and Sony WX50 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-500 versus the WX50.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and WX50 is 70 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The image below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and WX50.

To sum up, both of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-500 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony WX50 will render greater detail using its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography features
Sony WX50 Portrait photography features
49
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
sensor resolution low (8MP)
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography advice
Sony WX50 Street photography advice
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (479g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Sports photography camera
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography features
Sony WX50 Travel photography features
52
lighter than competition in class (479g)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (8MP)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition (117g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX50 Landscape photography highlights
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
no Time Lapse recording
38
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging advice
Sony WX50 Vlogging advice
9
no video recording
35
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony WX50
 Olympus E-500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Also called as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2005-10-21 2012-01-30
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 8MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 400 12800
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 215 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 grams (1.06 pounds) 117 grams (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 life - 240 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $600 $250