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Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 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
  • Introduced November 2007
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Superseded the Olympus E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-520
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Launched February 2013
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-510 versus Sony RX1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-510 was released 6 years prior to the RX1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving right into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-510 grades versus the RX1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Sony RX1

 E-510 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-510

 RX1 E-510 
LaunchedFebruary 2013November 2007More modern by 63 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1229k230kCrisper screen (+999k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Sony RX1

 E-510 RX1 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 comes with exterior 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 RX1 has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-510 versus Sony RX1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the E-510 against the RX1.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-510 and RX1 is 69 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor sizes just by researching a spec sheet. The pic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and RX1.

As you can see, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-510 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony RX1 will result in more detail as a result of its extra 14MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-510 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography details
Sony RX1 Portrait photography details
56
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
82
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-510
Street photography with Sony RX1
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (490 grams)
fixed screen
66
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
great ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-510
Sports photography with Sony RX1
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10MP)
53
megapixel count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (35mm)
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (270 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition (490 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
62
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (270 shots)
heavier than competition (482g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
65
you can focus manually
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (270 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX1 Vlogging highlights
9
no video recording
34
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (482g)
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Olympus E-510 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Sony RX1
 Olympus E-510Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-510 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Other name EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2007-11-23 2013-02-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 1600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
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 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 gr (1.08 pounds) 482 gr (1.06 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 93
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 14.3
DXO Low light score 442 2534
Other
Battery life - 270 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $550 $2,798