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Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-600 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus E-600
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 515g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Released August 2009
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Olympus E-600 versus Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-600 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-600 (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-600 was brought out within a month of the A500 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a short view of how the E-600 scores versus the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-600 over the Sony A500

 E-600 A500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus E-600

 A500 E-600 
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-600 and Sony A500

 E-600 A500 
RevealedAugust 2009August 2009Similar generation
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-600 features physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") having a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) while the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Olympus E-600 versus Sony A500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-600 against the A500.

Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-600 and A500 is 71 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes just by reading through a spec sheet. The image underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-600 and A500.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-600 comes with the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field more difficult.

Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-600 Portrait photography factors
Sony A500 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
76
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-600 Sports photography advice
Sony A500 Sports photography advice
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
slow fps (4.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (500 shots)
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
53
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (500 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
43
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (520 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-600 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A500 Landscape photography highlights
53
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inch)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
60
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (520 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-600
Vlogging with Sony A500
18
no video
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-600 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-600 and Sony A500
 Olympus E-600Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-600 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-08-30 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 7 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Max video resolution None None
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 515 gr (1.14 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 64
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 11.6
DXO Low light rating 541 772
Other
Battery life 500 images 520 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $638