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Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 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
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-510
  • Replaced the Olympus E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-520
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • Successor is Sony A9 II
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-510 versus Sony A9, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and A9 (24MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and A9 (Full frame) offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-510 was introduced 10 years prior to the A9 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-510 matches up vs the A9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Sony A9

 E-510 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus E-510

 A9 E-510 
RevealedApril 2017November 2007More recent by 114 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1440k230kSharper screen (+1210k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Sony A9

 E-510 A9 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 enjoys physical dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") having a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-510 versus Sony A9 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-510 compared to the A9.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and A9 is 69 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The photograph below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-510 and A9.

Plainly, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-510 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A9 will render extra detail using its extra 14 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-510 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography information
Sony A9 Portrait photography information
56
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
83
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography information
Sony A9 Street photography information
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (490g)
screen does not articulate
79
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-510
Sports photography with Sony A9
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
86
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
max fps high (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
good battery pack (650 CIPA)
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 Travel photography advice
Sony A9 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than competition in class (490g)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
73
good battery pack (650 shots)
environment sealing
has bluetooth
comes with touch focus
MP count good (24MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-510
Landscape photography with Sony A9
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
85
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
good battery pack (650 per charge)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging details
Sony A9 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Sony A9
 Olympus E-510Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-510 Sony Alpha A9
Also referred to as EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2007-11-23 2017-04-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 693
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 45 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490g (1.08 lbs) 673g (1.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 92
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 13.3
DXO Low light rating 442 3517
Other
Battery life - 650 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Two
Retail cost $550 $4,498