Olympus E-510 vs Sony DSC-H20: A Thorough Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts in 2024

Choosing the right camera is a critical step in any photographer’s journey, whether you’re upgrading from a smartphone or looking for a versatile secondary camera. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll examine two cameras from a similar vintage but very different categories: the Olympus E-510, an advanced DSLR offering sensor-based stabilization and interchangeable lenses, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20, a compact bridge camera with a powerful zoom and video capabilities.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras, I’ll break down their design, technology, and real-world performance across major photography disciplines. This article will help guide you toward the model that best fits your style, budget, and ambitions - whether you’re an aspiring portrait artist, a wildlife spotter, or a casual travel photographer.

Eyeing the Cameras: Physical Size and Handling

In everyday photography, how a camera feels and balances in your hand impacts your shooting experience more than specs on paper. The Olympus E-510 is a mid-size DSLR designed for photographers transitioning from point-and-shoot to interchangeable lens systems, while the Sony H20 is a compact all-in-one with a long zoom range that appeals to travelers and casual shooters.

Olympus E-510

• Dimensions: 136 x 92 x 68 mm
• Weight: 490 g (body only)
• Build: Mid-sized DSLR with comfortable grip and sturdy plastic chassis
• Controls: Well spaced, traditional DSLR layout with logical button placement

Sony DSC-H20

• Dimensions: 107 x 69 x 47 mm
• Weight: 250 g
• Build: Compact bridge camera, pocketable but larger than small compacts
• Controls: Limited physical buttons and a mode dial, simpler interface

From our hands-on testing, the Olympus feels substantial and poised for precision control, while the Sony focuses on portability and convenience, perfect for shoot-and-go scenarios. If you prioritize manual handling, extensive controls, and lens swapping, the E-510 wins. But the H20’s lightweight compactness makes it easy to carry all day without fatigue.

Design Details and Control Layout

User interface and operation workflow can make or break your shooting sessions - easy access to settings means you won’t miss decisive moments.

The E-510 sports a classic DSLR cockpit with dedicated dials for shutter speed and aperture control. Its pentamirror optical viewfinder gives a traditional photographer’s experience, albeit with 95% frame coverage and modest magnification (0.46x). You’ll find a 2.5" fixed LCD screen with 230k dot resolution but no touchscreen or articulation.

On the other hand, the Sony H20 eschews a viewfinder entirely, relying solely on the 3-inch LCD - which matches the E-510’s 230k dot resolution but is larger and more modern in feel. Controls are trimmed down: a mode dial, zoom rocker on the shutter, and fewer customizable buttons.

If you like shooting through a viewfinder and full manual control, the Olympus fits naturally. But if you prefer composing on a larger screen or want simpler menus, the Sony will be more approachable, especially for beginners or travelers.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

At the core of any camera’s imaging power is its sensor size and technology - this dictates resolution, dynamic range, noise performance, and image rendition subtlety.

Olympus E-510 Sensor:

• Type: Four Thirds CMOS
• Size: 17.3 x 13 mm (224.9 mm² sensor area)
• Resolution: 10 MP (3648 x 2736)
• ISO Range: 100 - 1600 native
• Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift IS, highly effective

Sony DSC-H20 Sensor:

• Type: 1/2.3” CCD
• Size: 6.17 x 4.55 mm (28.07 mm² sensor area)
• Resolution: 10 MP (3648 x 2736)
• ISO Range: 100 - 3200 maximum
• Image Stabilization: Optical lens-shift IS

The Olympus’s Four Thirds sensor is substantially larger than Sony’s tiny 1/2.3” CCD - by almost eight times the area. This means you gain considerably better low light performance, dynamic range, and greater depth control with the E-510. Sensor-based image stabilization adds steadiness across any mounted lens, enhancing sharpness more consistently.

In practice, the E-510 produces cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, preserving highlight details and delivering smoother tonal gradations. The Sony can push ISO higher but with visible noise quickly degrading image coherence.

LCD Screen and Live View Operation

Although DSLRs traditionally relied on optical viewfinders, live view has become standard to aid composition.

• E-510: 2.5”, fixed LCD without touch; live view is basic and somewhat slow due to sensor readout speed.
• Sony H20: Larger 3” LCD enables brighter, clearer framing in live view mode, no viewfinder.

For street or casual photographers, the larger LCD on the H20 makes framing easier without peering through an eyepiece. However, if you are working outdoors in bright conditions, the E-510’s viewfinder is vital for visibility.

Sample Images: Real-World Results

Let's see how these cameras fare with actual photos captured in typical shooting conditions.

Olympus E 510 front Olympus E 510 screen back Sony H20 front Sony H20 screen back

• Portraits: The Olympus E-510’s larger sensor and natural colors render skin tones more warmly and with finer gradation. Subject-background separation is better, thanks to lens selection and the 2.1x crop factor.
• Landscape: Both reach 10MP resolution, but the E-510 captures wider dynamic range and finer detail in shadows and highlights, thanks to CMOS tech and sensor size.
• Wildlife/Telephoto: The Sony’s 10x zoom rises to 380mm equivalence, giving distant subject reach out-of-the-box, albeit at smaller sensor cost - noticeably softer detail and more noise in less light.
• Night Shots: E-510 maintains reasonable color accuracy and less grain at ISO 800+, while H20’s noise grows rapidly despite sensor size and CCD nature.

This comparison confirms that Olympus’s DSLR system excels in image quality, dynamic range, and flexibility, while Sony’s compact solution impresses for zoom range and ease of use.

Performance and Speed: Autofocus and Shooting Rates

In disciplines like sports or wildlife photography, autofocus and continuous shooting speeds are paramount.

The phase-detection AF on the E-510 is generally faster and more reliable under varied lighting, enabling better capture of moving targets. However, with only three focus points and no advanced tracking, both cameras fall short of modern standards for fast action.

The H20’s contrast-detection with nine points delivers adequate focus for still subjects and casual snapshots but can lag with rapid movement. Burst shooting capabilities favor Olympus slightly, but neither is optimal for serious sports photography.

Durability, Build Quality, and Environmental Resistance

Weather sealing and ruggedness are serious considerations for outdoor and professional work.

• Olympus E-510: No weather sealing or environmental protection.
• Sony DSC-H20: No weatherproofing.

Both cameras employ primarily plastic construction. While sturdy enough for typical enthusiast use, neither is designed for harsh climates or harsh conditions.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

One of the biggest benefits of the Olympus E-510 is the broad support for interchangeable lenses thanks to the Micro Four Thirds mount.

• Over 45 lenses compatible, from fast primes perfect for portraits and macro to zooms ideal for wildlife and telephoto work.
• You can expand creatively and upgrade lens quality independently of the body.

The Sony H20 has a fixed 10x zoom lens with a range of 38-380mm (35mm equiv.) at f/3.5-4.4. This covers many scenarios but can’t be swapped or upgraded. You’re restricted to the built-in optics, limiting creative flexibility in focal length and aperture.

Battery Life and Storage Media

• Olympus E-510: Uses proprietary lithium-ion batteries (battery specs not detailed here), supports Compact Flash and xD Picture Card - dual media option lets you choose more common CF or the smaller xD.
• Sony H20: Uses NP-BG1 rechargeable battery, stores images on Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo or internal memory.

Battery endurance will vary by use, but expect shorter runtimes from the Sony H20 due to compact size. Olympus users benefit from interchangeable batteries and dual card format flexibility, useful in professional scenarios.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera features Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or GPS, reflecting their older design eras. However:

• Sony H20: Offers HDMI out for viewing images and videos on TVs.
• Olympus E-510: Lacks HDMI but has USB 2.0 for file transfer.

No external microphone or headphone jacks are present, limiting the video recording experience (Olympus E-510 lacks video recording entirely).

Video Recording Capabilities

If video is part of your creative toolkit, the Sony H20 supports:

• HD video: 1280 x 720 at 30 fps (720p)
• Other resolutions: 640 x 480 at 30 fps
• Limited manual control, no external audio input

Olympus E-510 cannot record video, which is an important consideration if you want hybrid imaging abilities.

How These Cameras Align with Different Photography Genres

To help you evaluate each camera’s relative strengths, we’ve assessed them across key photography types.

Overall Camera Performance and Ratings

To summarize objective performance based on sensor tech, features, and image quality:

• Olympus E-510: Scores higher for image quality, dynamic range, and lens versatility; suitable for enthusiasts and semi-pros who value control.
• Sony H20: More convenient and travel-friendly, decent image quality for a compact, good zoom for diverse scenarios but compromises in sensor size and control depth.

Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose the Olympus E-510 if:

• You want to learn manual photography controls thoroughly.
• You seek image quality with good dynamic range and low noise.
• You want lens interchangeability to explore different genres.
• You shoot portraits, macro, and landscapes often.
• You prioritize having an optical viewfinder.
• You don't need video.

Choose the Sony DSC-H20 if:

• You want a lightweight, all-in-one travel camera.
• You need a powerful zoom without changing lenses.
• You enjoy HD video shooting capabilities.
• You prefer simpler operation without swapping lenses.
• You shoot casual, day-to-day scenes or vacation photos.
• Portability is a major factor.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Next Move

Both the Olympus E-510 and the Sony DSC-H20 represent thoughtful design philosophies in early digital photography. The E-510 appeals to enthusiasts looking to develop skills and invest in a flexible DSLR system with excellent image quality for its class. The Sony H20 aims for users seeking convenience, extended zoom reach, and modest video support in a compact format.

If you’re serious about honing your craft and image quality is your priority, we recommend trying the Olympus E-510 with a variety of lenses. It remains a valuable tool for beginners stepping up their game and advanced hobbyists on a budget.

Conversely, if ease of use, portability, and zoom versatility with some video functionality matter most, the Sony H20 is a compelling option that can still deliver satisfying results in good lighting conditions.

We encourage you to test both cameras where possible. Handling both side by side will help you discover which interface and ergonomics suit your workflow. Whichever you choose, these cameras can jumpstart your creativity and establish foundational skills in photography.

Additional Resources for Your Creative Journey

• Check out affordable Micro Four Thirds lenses to pair with the Olympus E-510.
• Explore travel-friendly accessories like compact tripods, protective cases, and extra batteries.
• Try shooting in different genres to push each camera’s limits and find your favorite style.
• Learn post-processing techniques to enhance images from either camera further.

We hope this detailed comparison equips you with the knowledge to select a camera that aligns with your creative goals. Now, it’s time to get out there and capture the world in your unique way!

Happy shooting!