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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Sony SLT-A77 II front
Portability
62
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II 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
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Sony A77 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 647g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced May 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony A77
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II Overview

The following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and A77 II (24MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and A77 II (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was unveiled 9 years before the A77 II which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-500 matches up versus the A77 II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Sony A77 II

 E-500 A77 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 II over the Olympus E-500

 A77 II E-500 
AnnouncedMay 2014October 2005Newer by 104 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1229k215kSharper screen (+1014k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Sony A77 II

 E-500 A77 II 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Touch screen No Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 offers physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Sony A77 II has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 647 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-500 versus the A77 II.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and A77 II is 70 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by researching technical specs. The pic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and A77 II.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A77 II will render greater detail having an extra 16 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Sony A77 II
48
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low MP (8 megapixels)
79
manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Sony A77 II Street photography details
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (479 grams)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
76
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Sony A77 II Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery life (480 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography advice
Sony A77 II Travel photography advice
52
lighter than others (479g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low MP (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
64
environment sealing
decent MP (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (480 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
Sony A77 II Landscape photography details
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
max ISO too low (400)
doesn't have Timelapse function
73
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery life (480 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A77 II as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
77
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes microphone socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Sony A77 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Sony A77 II
 Olympus E-500Sony SLT-A77 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-500 Sony SLT-A77 II
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2005-10-21 2014-05-21
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 400 25600
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 50
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 79
Cross focus points - 15
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, fill, rear sync, slow sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lbs) 647 grams (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 1013
Other
Battery life - 480 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (Yes (2 or 12 sec))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $600 $1,198