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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Released November 2007
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-510
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-520
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-510 versus Olympus E-M5, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and E-M5 (16MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-510 was unveiled 5 years prior to the E-M5 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-510 grades vs the E-M5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-510 E-M5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-510

 E-M5 E-510 
AnnouncedApril 2012November 2007Fresher by 54 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution610k230kSharper screen (+380k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-M5

 E-510 E-M5 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-510 comes with exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Olympus E-M5 has measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-510 versus Olympus E-M5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-510 versus the E-M5.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and E-M5 is 69 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out specifications. The graphic here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and E-M5.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Olympus E-M5 to produce more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older E-510 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography information
56
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
71
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography details
Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (490 grams)
no moving screen
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
environment proof
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography details
Olympus E-M5 Sports photography details
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
environment proof
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition (490 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
66
environment proof
comes with focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
55
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-510
Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
9
no video recording
34
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-M5
 Olympus E-510Olympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-510 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Also called as EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2007-11-23 2012-04-30
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 610 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.58x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264, Motion JPEG
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 490g (1.08 lbs) 425g (0.94 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 71
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 12.3
DXO Low light score 442 826
Other
Battery life - 360 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $550 $799