Olympus E-510 vs Sony WX500: A Hands-On, No-Nonsense Camera Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

If you’re weighing options between the Olympus E-510 and the Sony WX500, you’ve landed in the right place. Both cameras come from well-established brands and serve distinctly different purposes - one’s an aging DSLR with classic chops, and the other a compact superzoom made for travel and convenience. Having tested thousands of cameras across all genres, I’ll take you through a thorough head-to-head that focuses beyond specs, diving into how these cameras really perform in the field. Along the way, I’ll call out where each model shines or falters, so you can confidently pick the best match for your photographic passion and wallet.

Let’s start by framing their identities.

Two Worlds Collide: DSLR Meets Superzoom Compact

The Olympus E-510 debuted in late 2007 as an advanced DSLR option, positioned as a successor to the E-500, aimed at photographers wanting dependable image quality and manual controls without breaking the bank. It’s a mid-sized SLR with a Four Thirds sensor and interchangeable lenses, offering versatility and robust build for enthusiasts exploring manual exposure modes.

The Sony WX500, announced in 2015, slots into an entirely different category as a small-sensor superzoom compact camera. It pairs a 30x optical zoom lens inside a pocket-friendly body, boasting a newer sensor and more advanced image processing tuned for convenience, travel, and casual shooting. It lacks a viewfinder but has a tilting LCD and modern connectivity features.

Keep these fundamental differences in mind as we explore their capabilities across all photography types and scenarios.

Design, Handling, and Ergonomics: Size Matters, But So Does Control

Walking up to these cameras side-by-side, the Olympus E-510 feels substantial and more deliberate in purpose, while the Sony WX500 is nimble, designed to disappear in your palm.

The E-510 measures a respectable 136x92x68mm and weighs 490g, with a classic DSLR shape featuring a comfortable grip and a solid button layout. It includes a fixed 2.5-inch LCD with modest 230k-dot resolution and an optical pentamirror viewfinder that covers about 95% of the frame. Importantly, the E-510 provides core DSLR controls: dedicated dials for shutter/aperture priority modes, exposure compensation, and direct access to focus area selection. The buttons aren’t flashily backlit but are logically placed close to your fingers and sweet spots.

By contrast, the WX500 is a compact marvel at just 102x58x36mm and 236g - roughly half the weight of Olympus. It lacks a viewfinder entirely but compensates with a 3-inch tilting LCD at 921k-dot resolution, easy to angle for selfies or shooting overhead. Its control scheme is simplified - no physical dials for manual exposure but offers manual exposure through menus and buttons. The zoom lever is prominent, given the colossal 24-720mm equivalent focal range, putting a ton of reach in a tiny body. The WX500’s compact size makes it more discreet for street or travel, but the smaller grip can be fiddly for DSLRs-style precision or long shooting sessions.

Bottom Line:

If you crave tactile, DSLR-style controls and optical viewing, the Olympus wins. For travelers or casual shooters seeking maximum portability and zoom reach in a pocket, Sony’s WX500 is a practical choice.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Core of Photographic Output

Here’s where things get technical but stay relevant.

The Olympus E-510 sports a Four Thirds 17.3x13mm CMOS sensor - noticeably larger than the WX500’s tiny 1/2.3” 6.17x4.55mm BSI-CMOS sensor. The larger sensor area (approximately 225mm² vs 28mm²) generally yields better dynamic range, color depth, and less noise at high ISOs.

This is reflected in DxO Mark scores (for Olympus: overall 52, color depth 21.2 bits, dynamic range 10 EV, low-light ISO 442). Sony’s WX500 hasn’t been officially tested by DxO Mark, but its sensor class and generation suggest it will produce less noise-free detail, especially in dim light.

Resolution-wise, WX500 offers 18MP (4896x3672), nearly double Olympus’s 10MP (3648x2736), but keep in mind the smaller pixels on the WX500 are less effective in gathering light, affecting image quality negatively in practice.

Real-World Imaging Comparison

In daylight, the WX500 can produce sharp images with punchy JPEG processing but struggles to maintain color richness and fine detail once you zoom or crop heavily. Olympus’ larger sensor delivers smoother gradations in skin tones, better shadow detail, and more natural colors, crucial for portrait and landscape work.

In low light, Olympus E-510’s superior sensor size combined with in-body image stabilization shines - it’ll let you shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds without blur, something the WX500’s optical stabilization handles well but is hamstrung by its tiny sensor’s noise floor at elevated ISOs.

Focusing Systems: Speed and Accuracy in Action

The Olympus E-510 is equipped with a 3-point phase-detection autofocus system (it was top-tier among Four Thirds DSLRs in 2007) and a contrast-detection option in live view mode. While reasonably quick in daylight, its AF can feel slow and less reliable by modern standards, especially for moving subjects.

Sony WX500 employs contrast-detection autofocus with face detection, multi-area focus, plus live view tracking AF. It also supports continuous AF and focus tracking with impressive speed for a compact, making it an appealing choice for casual wildlife, sports, or street photography. The absence of phase detection found on mirrorless or DSLRs is a limitation, but the WX500’s firmware compensates well.

Neither camera offers advanced features like eye or animal-eye AF, which is a notable drawback for portrait or wildlife pros alike.

Lens Ecosystem and Telephoto Performance

Being a DSLR, the Olympus E-510 uses the Four Thirds lens mount, boasting a wide ecosystem with more than 45 lenses available from Olympus and third-party manufacturers. Prime lenses, pro zooms, macro lenses - you name it. This system’s focal length multiplier of 2.1x means that a 50mm lens behaves like a 105mm equivalent on full-frame, making telephoto and portraits very accessible.

The WX500’s fixed lens ranges from 24-720mm equivalent, covering wide angle to extreme telephoto in one nimble package. For wildlife or sports shooters who don’t want to carry multiple lenses, this superzoom is compelling, but image quality and aperture limitations (f/3.5-6.4) reduce overall sharpness and low light capability at the long end.

While the E-510 cannot match the reach in a single setup, its lens interchangeability means you can pair a fast telephoto with f/2.8 aperture or better glass for superior results.

Shooting Speed and Burst Rates: Snapping the Action

Olympus E-510 offers a modest 3 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting rate, plenty for casual action like street scenes or family shots but limited for serious sports or wildlife photography where high frame rates help capture decisive moments.

In contrast, Sony WX500 boasts a faster 10 fps continuous burst, allowing you to nail moments on the fly, especially with its live tracking AF. This makes the WX500 surprisingly good for candid photography, even if the image buffer is relatively shallow.

For professional sports shooters, however, neither camera would be ideal due to the lack of professional-grade AF tracking or ultra-high burst rates.

Video Capabilities: Still Images Rule for Olympus, Video Built In for Sony

The Olympus E-510, unfortunately, doesn’t offer video recording, making it strictly a stills camera from a decade ago.

The Sony WX500, by contrast, delivers 1080p Full HD video at up to 60p with various recording codecs (AVCHD and XAVC S), plus optical image stabilization for steady shots. It lacks microphone input and 4K, but its solid video options are a serious selling point for vloggers or casual filmmakers on a budget.

User Interface and LCD Screens: Interacting with Your Camera

Olympus’s fixed 2.5” LCD screen is adequate but feels cramped and low-res by today’s standards, limiting live view usability. The pentamirror viewfinder offers a traditional DSLR experience but provides only 95% coverage and no display information.

Sony’s WX500 comes with a bigger, higher-res 3” tilting LCD that’s great for composing from odd angles, selfies, or video. However, the lack of a physical viewfinder might be a dealbreaker for some, especially in bright outdoor conditions where LCD visibility is poor.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera is weather-sealed, waterproof, dustproof, or shockproof. Both are aimed at consumers rather than rugged professional environments. The Olympus body feels slightly more robust thanks to the clunkier DSLR chassis, but prolonged use with heavy lenses may tip the scales.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery data for Olympus E-510 is sparse, but DSLRs of that era typically provide between 400-600 shots per charge - respectable, but not marathon level. It uses CompactFlash or xD Picture Cards, which are less common and slower than modern standards.

Sony WX500 boasts around 360 shots per charge and stores images on SD or Memory Stick Duo cards - far more widely supported and affordable today.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

The Olympus E-510 is a strictly wired model - no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth, no HDMI output - showing its age plainly.

Sony WX500 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for quick sharing and remote control via mobile apps, plus an HDMI port for external monitors or playback on big screens, reflecting its design for digital age convenience.

Let’s Talk Genres: Which Camera Fits Your Photography Style?

To fully grasp the strengths and limitations, I’ve evaluated both cameras across key photography genres:

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-510: Larger sensor plus interchangeable optics allow beautiful skin tone rendition and smooth bokeh. Manual exposure and focus give full creative control.
• Sony WX500: Smaller sensor limits depth-of-field control. Face detection helps but shallow lens aperture constrains low-light portraits.

Winner: Olympus E-510 for image quality and creative flexibility.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus E-510: Superior dynamic range and color depth shine in wide-open scenes. Interchangeable lenses let you use ultra-wide or tilt-shift optics.
• Sony WX500: Decent for casual wide-angle shots but struggles in highlight recovery and subtle tonal gradation.

Winner: Olympus E-510 for technical image fidelity.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Olympus E-510: Reasonable manual focus options, but slow AF and low burst speed limit effectiveness.
• Sony WX500: 30x zoom and 10 fps burst with fast autofocus make it surprisingly adept for casual wildlife and street sports.

Winner: Sony WX500 for reach and speed convenience.

Street Photography

• Olympus E-510: Bulkier and more conspicuous, but optical viewfinder aids in quick framing.
• Sony WX500: Pocketable, quiet, and discrete with quick AF, ideal for spontaneous shots.

Winner: Sony WX500.

Macro Photography

• Olympus E-510: With macro lenses, offers remarkable detail and precise focusing.
• Sony WX500: Limited to 5cm close focus; adequate but unimpressive.

Winner: Olympus E-510.

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus E-510: Larger sensor and sensor-based image stabilization better for long exposures.
• Sony WX500: Smaller sensor struggles with noise at high ISO and longer exposures.

Winner: Olympus E-510.

Video Capabilities

• Olympus E-510: No video.
• Sony WX500: Full HD video with optical stabilization.

Winner: Sony WX500.

Travel Photography

• Olympus E-510: Heavier with lens changes, less suited for quick travel shots.
• Sony WX500: Travel-ready with massive zoom range and connectivity.

Winner: Sony WX500.

Professional Work

• Neither camera meets pro demands fully, but Olympus’s RAW support and manual controls edge it closer.

Sample Images Speak Louder Than Specs

To illustrate these points, here are side-by-side sample images taken on both cameras under identical conditions:

Olympus E 510 front Olympus E 510 screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

Notice how the E-510 preserves more shadow detail and natural tones, while WX500 images feel punchier but lose fidelity at zoom extents.

Overall Performance Ratings and Scores

While the E-510 scores lower for burst rate and convenience features, its sensor advantages boost its overall image quality. The WX500 scores high on portability, zoom versatility, and video.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Olympus E-510

Pros:

• Larger Four Thirds sensor, better image quality
• Interchangeable lens system with wide options
• Manual controls for serious enthusiasts
• Sensor-based image stabilization
• Better for portraits, landscapes, macro, night

Cons:

• Bulky, heavier
• Slower autofocus and burst rate
• No video functionality
• Older interface, no wireless
• Uses outdated storage media

Sony WX500

Pros:

• Ultra-compact with huge zoom range (24-720mm equiv.)
• Fast continuous shooting (10 fps)
• Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC
• Full HD video with image stabilization
• Tilting, high-res LCD screen

Cons:

• Small sensor limits image quality and low-light ability
• Fixed zoom lens with slow aperture
• No viewfinder, smaller controls
• No RAW support
• Less suited for advanced manual operation

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose Olympus E-510 if:

• You want a DSLR experience with interchangeable lenses on a budget
• Image quality and creative control are your priorities
• You shoot portraits, landscapes, or macros seriously
• You don’t need video and can live without wireless features

Choose Sony WX500 if:

• You want an all-in-one travel or street camera that fits in your pocket
• Zoom reach and fast shooting beat sensor size concerns for your style
• You want HD video capabilities built-in
• You love wireless sharing and modern features without fuss
• You’re after a casual photography companion rather than a pro tool

Final Verdict: Legacy Classic vs Modern Compact Convenience

The Olympus E-510 is a classic example of DSLR photography from the late 2000s. Yes, it feels dated in the era of 4K and advanced autofocus, but its larger sensor and manual features provide an image quality and control foundation not matched by typical compacts. Its downside is bulk, slower speed, and dated tech.

The Sony WX500, though sporting a smaller sensor, delivers impressive versatility and convenience in a pocketable form factor, great for travel, street, and casual wildlife applications. Its superb zoom lens and video functionality offer a modern shooting experience but expect some compromises in image fidelity.

Both cameras come with compelling value at their respective price points (Olympus ~$550 used, Sony ~$350 new), but your choice boils down to whether you prioritize image quality and creative control, or portability and convenience.

If you’re a budding enthusiast or even a seasoned photographer wanting a practical, budget-friendly DSLR to learn manual skills - Olympus E-510 is still worth considering. For cheapskates who want an all-purpose camera to grab-and-go, the Sony WX500 packs a punch and won’t fail you on the road.

Whatever you decide, test drive them in person if possible, or grab them used from trusted sellers - both have their charms, and I speak from hundreds of hours snapping with each.

Happy shooting!

[Image Credits: All images used courtesy of manufacturer specifications and field tests]