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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-510
  • Older Model is Olympus E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-520
Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 III
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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and E-M5 II (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-510 was unveiled 8 years before the E-M5 II and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-510 matches up versus the E-M5 II 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 II

 E-510 E-M5 II 

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

 E-M5 II E-510 
RevealedFebruary 2015November 2007Fresher by 87 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 E-510 E-M5 II 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 comes with outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M5 II has specifications of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") along with a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-510 versus the E-M5 II.

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

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-510 and E-M5 II is 69 and 80 respectively.

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

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specifications. The graphic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-510 and E-M5 II.

To sum up, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Olympus E-M5 II to offer more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

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

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

Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography features
56
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (10MP)
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-510
Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (490 grams)
fixed screen
82
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
weather proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-510
Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 II
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
low battery life (310 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-510
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
52
lighter than average (490g)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
74
weather proofing
includes touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
low battery life (310 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-M5 II as a Landscape photography camera
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery life (310 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging information
Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging information
9
no video shooting
82
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic port
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Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-M5 II
 Olympus E-510Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-510 Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Also called EVOLT E-510 -
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2007-11-23 2015-02-06
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 3 81
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 45 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 grams (1.08 lbs) 469 grams (1.03 lbs)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 73
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 12.4
DXO Low light rating 442 896
Other
Battery life - 310 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $550 $699