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Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30
Olympus FE-4030 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus FE-4030
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 146g - 93 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2010
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FE-4030 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is relatively comparable but the FE-4030 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The FE-4030 was released 5 months later than the A500 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus FE-4030 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the FE-4030 grades vs the A500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4030 over the Sony A500

 FE-4030 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus FE-4030

 A500 FE-4030 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus FE-4030 and Sony A500

 FE-4030 A500 
RevealedJanuary 2010August 2009Same generation
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus FE-4030 provides outer measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs) while the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the FE-4030 and the A500.

Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the FE-4030 and A500 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out technical specs. The graphic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-4030 and A500.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FE-4030 due to its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus FE-4030 will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively.

Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus FE-4030
Portrait photography with Sony A500
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
48
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 Sports photography highlights
Sony A500 Sports photography highlights
35
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 Travel photography features
Sony A500 Travel photography features
65
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
43
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
low battery power (520 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
33
rather wide (26mm)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
low battery power (520 shots)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-4030 Vlogging advice
Sony A500 Vlogging advice
26
rather wide (26mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic port
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus FE-4030 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4030 and Sony A500
 Olympus FE-4030Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus FE-4030 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-01-07 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-105mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.6-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 4cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.80 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 640x480 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 146 gr (0.32 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 520 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $130 $638