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Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-620 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus E-620
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 500g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Announced July 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
  • Announced August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus E-620 versus Sony A500, both Entry-Level DSLR digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-620 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-620 (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-620 was released very close to the A500 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact SLR).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-620 grades vs the A500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-620 over the Sony A500

 E-620 A500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus E-620

 A500 E-620 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-620 and Sony A500

 E-620 A500 
AnnouncedJuly 2009August 2009Similar age
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-620 comes with physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-620 versus Sony A500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-620 against the A500.

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-620 and A500 is 71 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions purely by checking technical specs. The picture here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-620 and A500.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-620 contains the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF more challenging.

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-620 Portrait photography details
Sony A500 Portrait photography details
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
63
focusing manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-620 Street photography features
Sony A500 Street photography features
76
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-620 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
48
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (500 CIPA)
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
bad battery (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-620 Travel photography details
Sony A500 Travel photography details
53
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery (500 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-620 Landscape photography info
Sony A500 Landscape photography info
53
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is small (2.7")
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (500 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
60
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-620 Vlogging info
Sony A500 Vlogging info
18
can't record video
9
can't record video
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Olympus E-620 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-620 and Sony A500
 Olympus E-620Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-620 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-07-06 2009-08-27
Body design Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 7 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 45 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
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
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Highest video resolution None None
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 500 grams (1.10 lbs) 630 grams (1.39 lbs)
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 All around score 55 64
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 11.6
DXO Low light score 536 772
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 520 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 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
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $799 $638