Olympus E-600 vs Sony WX500: A Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

When weighed side-by-side, the Olympus E-600 and Sony WX500 are unquestionably products of different photographic eras and philosophies. One hails from the dedicated DSLR camp, introduced back in 2009 with a Micro Four Thirds sensor; the other, a compact superzoom from 2015 geared towards travelers seeking maximal reach in minimal bulk. Despite the technological gap and design divergence, both cameras have their own appeal to distinct user bases. I’ve spent extensive shooting time with these cameras in diverse scenarios, and this article peels back specs and performance to reveal which will best serve your photographic ambitions, across genres from portraiture to astrophotography.

Let’s dive deep, starting with basic ergonomics and moving through sensor technology, autofocus, image quality, handling, and specialized use cases.

Putting Them Side-by-Side: Size and Handling

Physically, the Olympus E-600 is a compact DSLR with a classic SLR silhouette, measuring 130 x 94 x 60mm and weighing 515g with battery. Meanwhile, the Sony WX500 is a true point-and-shoot marvel: tiny at 102 x 58 x 36mm and featherweight at just 236g.

As you can see, the WX500 nestles comfortably in the smallest pockets, making it a pocketable travel companion without fuss. The E-600’s more substantial body lends itself to longer sessions and the heft suits those who prefer a pronounced grip and tactile control surfaces.

The E-600’s DSLR styling means it offers classic handling, including a pronounced handgrip and room for fingers. However, its bulk and weight can demand a dedicated camera bag if you’re mobile. The WX500, with its slider zoom lens and minimalist design, is poised for grab-and-go shooting - but its small grip and flatter body can be fiddly for extended use or in tricky lighting.

Control Layout and Interface: Intuitive or Impersonal?

Ergonomics are more than size; layout and user interface determine how you interact with a camera’s capabilities.

The Olympus E-600 adheres to traditional DSLR control logic - a dedicated mode dial, exposure compensation, direct access to aperture and shutter priority modes, and buttons with decent tactility. This benefits photographers who like manual overrides and familiar controls. That said, its 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, with relatively low resolution (230k dots), feels dated with limited visibility in bright sunlight.

The WX500 depends on a more modern but simplified control scheme, with fewer physical buttons and a lack of a viewfinder, making composition reliant on its 3-inch 921k-dot screen. The screen tilts - handy for low and high angles - but lacks touchscreen capabilities, which Sony didn’t include in this model. The minimal physical controls prioritize compactness but require more menu diving for advanced settings.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size Matters

Sensor technology is the core determinant of image quality. Here’s a quick snapshot:

Starting with the E-600, the Four Thirds sensor is considerably larger than the WX500’s 1/2.3-inch chip. This size advantage typically translates into stronger performance in noise control, dynamic range, and depth of field control, especially notable in low-light or high-contrast environments. The TruePic III+ image processor, while dated, manages reasonable image processing for its time.

In contrast, the WX500 boasts 18 megapixels - higher nominal resolution than the E-600’s 12MP - but from a much smaller sensor. Although smaller sensors capture less light per pixel, the WX500’s backside-illuminated CMOS improves light gathering somewhat. However, smaller pixels mean more noise at higher ISO and reduced dynamic range.

This difference favors the E-600 for higher quality image output, especially for large prints or demanding post-processing workflows.

Autofocus Systems: Precision vs Speed

Autofocus performance can make or break shared moments, so it’s integral to compare these cameras' AF capabilities.

The E-600 features a hybrid AF system incorporating both contrast-detection and phase-detection across 7 focus points, including face detection. It offers AF-Single, AF-Continuous, and live view autofocus modes. However, its autofocus tracking and speed are relatively modest by modern standards.

The WX500, while lacking phase detection, employs contrast detection with eye and face detection, continuous autofocus, and af tracking. Its prowess lies in tracking fast-moving subjects and maintaining focus during bursts, thanks to a burst rate of 10 fps versus the E-600’s 4 fps.

For wildlife or sports, the WX500’s AF speed and higher burst rate provide considerable advantage in capturing fleeting action, albeit with image quality compromises.

In the Field: Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands skin tone fidelity, pleasing bokeh, and reliable subject detection.

The E-600’s larger sensor and 4:3 aspect ratio help create more natural bokeh and separation, especially when paired with fast prime or portrait lenses. Its 7-point AF system includes face detection, but no dedicated eye AF or animal eye AF, common in modern cameras. Still, the physical control over aperture and ISO facilitates artistic control over depth of field.

Portraits shot with the WX500 can benefit from its sharp, versatile zoom lens and face detection AF. However, the smaller sensor limits shallow depth of field effects, resulting in flatter, less pronounced background blur. Skin tones tend to render slightly less natural, especially in mixed lighting or post-processed JPEGs.

Exploring Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Landscape photographers prioritize sensor dynamic range and sharpness.

The E-600, with a DXO overall score of 55 and solid dynamic range of 10.3 EV, outperforms the WX500 significantly in retaining detail in shadows and highlights. Its 12MP output also yields decent large-print quality, though limited compared to modern full frames.

The WX500’s smaller sensor struggles with dynamic range, leading to clipped highlights under bright skies and crushed shadows in dense foliage. The noisy shadows also limit post-processing flexibility.

Furthermore, the E-600’s fully articulated LCD aids composing complex shots from awkward angles in the field.

Wildlife and Sports: Speed and Reach Tested

For wildlife, focal length reach and autofocus speed reign supreme.

Olympus E 600 screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

The WX500’s 24-720mm equivalent zoom lens (30x optical zoom, with a 5.8x focal length multiplier) obliterates the Olympus’s need to switch lenses. This means a remarkable range from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife without a hitch. The built-in optical stabilization and fast autofocus help seize fleeting moments, while its 10 fps burst excels in rapid action capture.

The E-600 depends on interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount, with a focal length multiplier of 2.1x). Paired with a telephoto zoom, it can achieve decent reach (e.g., 300mm equivalent), but bulk and lens cost can add up. Its continuous shooting at 4 fps and less advanced AF tracking make it less ideal for fast wildlife or sports action.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

For blending into urban environments or capturing candid moments:

The WX500 shines with its diminutive form factor and silent operation, allowing photographers to remain unobtrusive. Its tilt screen facilitates quick low-angle shots, while the zoom range enables close-ups without stepping too close.

The E-600, being bulkier and louder, draws more attention and may intimidate subjects. Its optical viewfinder permits faster framing in bright daylight but hampers stealth.

Macro Photography: Precision and Detail

Macro work demands precise focusing and stabilization.

The WX500’s capability to focus as close as 5 cm allows reasonable macro close-ups, though the small sensor restricts detail and high ISO noise can become an issue under low light.

The E-600, coupled with dedicated macro lenses, enables superior detail capture and bokeh control. Sensor-based stabilization supports slow shutter speeds hand-held, improving sharpness.

Night and Astro: High ISO Challenges

Low-light shooting benefits from sensor size and processing.

The Olympus, with a lower max ISO of 3200 but larger pixel size, produces cleaner images in dim environments, letting those faint stars or night scenes breathe with minimal chroma noise.

The WX500’s maximum ISO reaches 12800, but noise becomes aggressively apparent beyond ISO 1600, limiting utility. Without long exposure capabilities or specialized astro modes, neither camera stands out for dedicated astrophotography.

Video Performance: Moving Still Images

Neither camera is a video powerhouse compared to modern standards, but both offer basic capabilities.

The Sony WX500 supports Full HD recording at 60p, 60i, 30p, and 24p using AVCHD or XAVC S codecs. While lacking external microphone input or headphone monitoring, it manages decent video stabilization optically.

The Olympus E-600 offers no video recording capability, as expected for a DSLR launched in 2009 before video became standard.

For casual video shooters, WX500 wins hands down.

Travel and Workflow: Versatility and Battery Life

Travel photography demands reliability, power, and adaptability.

Though bigger, the E-600 provides higher battery life (approximately 500 shots per charge) versus the WX500’s 360 shots. The latter’s compact size masks its mediocre battery endurance, perhaps supplemented by external power packs on extended trips.

The E-600 accepts CompactFlash and xD cards, while the WX500 uses SD and Memory Stick Duo cards - the latter more common today.

Both cameras lack weather sealing; neither is true weatherproof.

Professional Workflows: File Formats and Integration

The E-600 supports RAW capture, giving full flexibility in post-processing. Its files integrate well with professional editing software.

The WX500, conversely, does not offer RAW, limiting professional-level adjustments.

Summary Scores and Final Thoughts

When viewed through the prism of raw performance, the Olympus E-600 scores higher on image quality, dynamic range, and professional features. Yet, positives extend to traditional handling and adaptability with lenses.

Conversely, the Sony WX500 excels in speed, zoom flexibility, portability, and video - traits attractive for casual, travel, and action photographers who prize convenience over absolute image fidelity.

So, Which One Is Right For You?

Choose the Olympus E-600 if you:

• Aspire to a more traditional DSLR experience with interchangeable lenses.
• Prioritize image quality, particularly skin tones, dynamic range, and low-light performance.
• Shoot portraits, landscapes, or studio work wanting greater creative control.
• Need RAW capture and professional workflow compatibility.
• Don’t mind carrying slightly larger equipment.

Choose the Sony WX500 if you:

• Require extreme zoom flexibility in a pocketable body.
• Favor speed and autofocus responsiveness for wildlife, street, and sports.
• Want Full HD video and in-camera stabilization.
• Appreciate easy-to-use controls with minimal setup.
• Prioritize portability and travel convenience over ultimate image quality.

Closing Notes From Experience

Across thousands of cameras tested over many years, few comparisons illustrate the trade-off between sensor size and lens versatility better than the Olympus E-600 and Sony WX500. The E-600, despite its age, is surprisingly resilient in quality domains where sensor physics matter most, while the WX500 embodies the strengths and limitations of a small sensor compact tuned for reach and speed.

Neither is a perfect camera by modern standards, but both carve out clear niches. I recommend prospective buyers weigh what matters most in their photography - image quality or convenience - and calibrate expectations accordingly. This balanced, experienced approach ensures you pick a camera that feels like a steadfast tool, not a compromise.

Happy shooting!