Olympus FE-47 vs. Sony A500: A Hands-On Comparison Across Photography Disciplines

When you line up the Olympus FE-47 and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 side by side, you’re essentially looking at two cameras from drastically different eras and categories - yet they each offer unique advantages for photographers depending on their needs and budgets. Having spent over 15 years testing cameras through countless scenarios, I’m excited to dive into this detailed comparison touching on everything from sensor technology to real-world shooting performance.

Let’s break down how these cameras stack up from the fundamentals to the finer points of their usability and image quality, and then I’ll offer tailored recommendations based on specific photography disciplines and user profiles.

Understanding the Core Differences: Design and Build

Right away, the Olympus FE-47 screams portability. Weighing only 204 grams and measuring a compact 98x61x27 mm, it’s barely bigger than a deck of cards, making it a genuine pocket-friendly compact. Conversely, the Sony A500 is a traditional entry-level DSLR, tipping the scales at 630 grams and measuring substantially larger with a 137x104x84 mm body.

This size disparity influences handling profoundly. The FE-47’s build limits advanced controls and grip ergonomics, while the Sony’s DSLR form provides more intuitive access to settings, mode dials, and a robust handgrip designed for longer sessions.

The Olympus uses a fixed lens and a very basic TruePic III processor - an older engine suited for snapshot-level tasks - while the Sony sports the more powerful Bionz processor and supports an interchangeable lens system with the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount.

Build quality-wise, both cameras lack weather sealing; however, the Sony’s heft and DSLR form feel more durable in the hand, especially for prolonged professional use, albeit at the cost of portability.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

A critical factor separating these two is sensor technology and size.

• Olympus FE-47: Uses a 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm, 27.7 mm² area), with a 14MP resolution delivering images at 4288x3216 pixels. The sensor is fixed behind a 36-180mm (equivalent) f/3.5-5.6 zoom. Max ISO sensitivity is limited to 1600.

• Sony A500: Houses a significantly larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm, 366.6 mm² area), at 12MP resolution (4272x2848). There is a noteworthy sensitivity push with max ISO 12800 and support for RAW capture.

From a photographic perspective, sensor size is king. The Sony’s APS-C sensor, over 13 times the surface area of the Olympus’ chip, allows for dramatically better low-light performance, dynamic range, color depth, and depth-of-field control - a must-have for any photographer aiming for professional-quality images.

In practical shooting tests, I observed the Olympus struggled with noise beyond ISO 400, producing muted colors and soft detail, consistent with the CCD limitations of its era. The Sony’s CMOS sensor, combined with Bionz processing, rendered clear, vibrant images even up to ISO 3200 with manageable noise, making it vastly superior for demanding lighting conditions.

Interface and Live Preview: Screens and Viewfinder

Both cameras have live view, a convenience standard for more intuitive framing.

The Olympus’s 2.7” fixed LCD (230k dots) provides basic image review capability but was not designed for touch or advanced controls. The Sony ups the ante with a 3.0” tilting screen at the same 230k resolution. While modest by today's standards, the tilting function adds compositional flexibility, especially for low-angle or overhead shots.

Critically for DSLRs, the Sony features a pentamirror-based optical viewfinder, covering 95% of the frame with 0.53x magnification - absent in the Olympus, which relies solely on its rear LCD. This optical viewfinder is invaluable in bright conditions and for fast action photography where lag-free framing is essential.

Autofocus and Shooting Dynamics

The Olympus FE-47 offers a simple contrast-detection AF system with multi-area selection but no manual focus or advanced features like face detection or continuous AF. It supports only single-shot AF and has a shutter speed range from 4 to 1/2000 sec.

The Sony A500 uses a 9-point phase-detection AF with continuous and face detection autofocus capabilities, enabling faster and more reliable focus locking and tracking performance, essential for wildlife, sports, and street photography.

Continuous shooting rates also underscore their differing personalities:

• Olympus: No continuous shooting mode, limiting capture of fast action sequences.
• Sony: 5 frames per second continuous shooting - adequate for tracking moderate sports and wildlife action.

Lens Systems and Versatility

One of the greatest differences is the lens setup.

• Olympus FE-47: Fixed zoom lens from 36-180mm equivalent (5x optical zoom). No option for lens changes means you’re limited to its specified range and aperture (f/3.5-5.6). This suffices for casual travel and day-to-day snapshots but will feel restrictive for specialized fields.

• Sony A500: Compatible with the extensive Sony/Minolta Alpha lens mount system, offering over 140 lens options ranging from wide-angle primes, macro lenses, telephoto zooms, and affordable third-party optics. This wealth allows you to adapt to virtually any photography genre, from studio portraiture to razor-sharp wildlife telephoto shots.

Such lens flexibility impacts everything from image quality, creative control over depth of field, and suitability to different photographic challenges.

Real World Performance Across Photography Genres

To better understand which user each camera suits, I tested both through the lens across ten key photography use cases.

Olympus FE 47 front Olympus FE 47 screen back Sony A500 front Sony A500 screen back

Portrait Photography

Here, skin tone reproduction, bokeh quality, and autofocus precision matter most.

• Olympus FE-47: Decent for snapshots with moderate background blur at 180mm tele. However, autofocus lag and no face detection impair sharp focus lock. Skin tones are somewhat flat, attributable to small sensor color depth.

• Sony A500: Larger sensor breeds natural skin tones with dimensionality and smooth background blur (especially when paired with a fast prime lens). Face detection autofocus is reliable, essential for capturing crisp eyes.

Landscape Photography

Wide dynamic range and resolution shine in landscape images.

• Olympus FE-47: Struggles in scenes with high contrast due to limited dynamic range. Resolution is adequate but fine details soften at wider angles.

• Sony A500: Excellent dynamic range captures nuanced shadows and highlight detail. Tilting LCD aids composition in awkward terrain. Extensive lens choices include wide-angle and tilt-shift for creative control.

Wildlife Photography

Speed, autofocus tracking, and telephoto reach are critical.

• Olympus FE-47: Limited by fixed lens and slow AF, it’s only marginally practical for casual wildlife shots.

• Sony A500: Despite its age, the 5 fps burst and phase detection AF handle moderately fast wildlife shots well - especially with long telephoto lenses.

Sports Photography

Requires quick reflexes, plus fast and reliable autofocus with good frame rates.

• Olympus FE-47: No continuous shooting or fast AF limits this camera’s utility here.

• Sony A500: Acceptable for amateur sports photography; 5 fps and manual exposure modes afford decent control.

Street Photography

Discretion and portability weigh heavily.

• Olympus FE-47: Its compact form and quiet operation make it perfect for street shooting or travel snapshots where attention avoidance is beneficial.

• Sony A500: Bulkier and louder mirror slap can attract notice; less ideal for discrete street work.

Macro Photography

Fine focusing precision and stabilization are needed.

• Olympus FE-47: Macro mode focuses down to 3cm, reasonable for casual close-ups but no focus stacking or stabilization.

• Sony A500: With compatible macro lenses and sensor-based stabilization, this DSLR can create detailed, sharp macro shots with better handling and exposure control.

Night and Astrophotography

Performance at high ISO and long exposures are paramount.

• Olympus FE-47: Limited ISO and no exposure modes restrict astrophotography potential.

• Sony A500: Higher ISO range and manual modes offer more flexibility for night shooting, though modern mirrorless cameras surpass it here nowadays.

Video Capabilities

Nowadays a standard capability.

• Olympus FE-47: Records VGA (640x480) video at 30 fps - basic and fairly outdated.

• Sony A500: No video recording capability; DSLR focused purely on stills.

Travel Photography

Requires a balance of versatility, size, and battery life.

• Olympus FE-47: Ultra-light and pocketable with 5x zoom makes it an easy travel companion, but limited manual controls may frustrate enthusiasts.

• Sony A500: Bulkier but packs DSLR functionality and battery life (520 shots approx.), plus wide lens choices - suitable if portability is less critical.

Technical Breakdown: What This Means Practically

Let’s go deeper on a few key metrics from my hands-on testing.

Usability and Ergonomics: Daily Experience

The FE-47’s reliance on AA batteries makes for easily replaceable power but compromises battery longevity compared to the Sony’s proprietary lithium-ion pack. The Sony’s longer battery life is a boon during extended shoots.

Handling controls on the Sony, including dedicated dials, manual focus ring (important for precision), and an optical viewfinder allow more confidence in a variety of conditions. The Olympus is decidedly a point-and-shoot with minimal manual overrides.

Connectivity and Storage

Neither camera offers modern wireless connectivity like WiFi or Bluetooth. Both rely on wired USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) for data transfer.

Storage-wise, both use SD/SDHC cards, though Sony also supports Memory Stick Pro Duo (legacy format).

Value Analysis: Pricing and Longevity

The Olympus FE-47, often found under $100 used, appeals to casual shooters on a tight budget, who want point-and-shoot simplicity and compactness without fuss.

The Sony A500, priced at launch around $600, now can be found used in the $150-250 range, giving excellent DSLR features at an entry-level cost. For novice enthusiasts wanting an upgrade or a second camera with versatile lens options, it is an outstanding value.

When to Choose the Olympus FE-47

If your photography goals are casual snapshots, simple travel photos, or you need an extremely compact and lightweight camera without the desire to fiddle with settings, the FE-47 will suit fine. I appreciate its simplicity for street photography where size and stealth matter more than speed or quality.

However, expect image quality that’s only good enough for social media or small prints, and limited shooting flexibility.

When the Sony A500 is the Clear Winner

For enthusiasts and professionals dipping into DSLR photography or seeking an affordable entry point, the Sony A500 stands out with its larger sensor, manual control modes, lens adaptability, and better autofocus.

It shines in portraits, landscapes, wildlife, macro, and low-light scenarios due to these strengths. You trade portability for image quality and creative options, a tradeoff most serious photographers gladly accept.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

• Portraits, Landscapes, Wildlife, Sports: Sony A500’s sensor size and lens choices pull ahead decisively.
• Street and Travel Casuals, Beginners on Budget: Olympus FE-47 offers convenience and compactness.
• Video Use: Neither camera is geared for modern video demands; the FE-47 offers basic VGA, Sony is still photo only.
• Macro and Night Photography: Sony’s manual control and sensors win, if you pair with the right lenses.
• Workflow and Professional Integration: Sony’s RAW files and exposure flexibility fit into professional pipelines.

In closing, while the Olympus FE-47 provides lightweight portability and simple operation, it’s undeniably limited by dated sensor tech and fixed optics. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A500, though older, presents a far more capable and expandable system for serious photo enthusiasts seeking solid image quality and versatile control.

Always remember, your choice hinges on how you like to shoot and what you want to create - technical specifications matter, but so does the joy of handling the camera and seeing your vision come to life.

If you want a detailed video walkthrough of shooting with these cameras, feel free to check my in-depth review linked above. Happy shooting!