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Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5010
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 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
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a detailed overview of the Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the FE-5010 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The FE-5010 was revealed 7 months prior to the A500 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus FE-5010 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a short highlight of how the FE-5010 matches up against the A500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5010 over the Sony A500

 FE-5010 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus FE-5010

 A500 FE-5010 
AnnouncedAugust 2009January 2009Fresher by 7 months
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus FE-5010 and Sony A500

 FE-5010 A500 
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus FE-5010 has exterior dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Compare the Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the FE-5010 against the A500.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FE-5010 and A500 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by going through technical specs. The visual here may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FE-5010 and A500.

As you can tell, the two cameras posses the exact same megapixels but different sensor sizing. The FE-5010 provides the smaller sensor which should make achieving bokeh more challenging. The older FE-5010 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Portrait photography features
Sony A500 Portrait photography features
20
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Street photography factors
Sony A500 Street photography factors
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lighter than others in class (130g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-5010
Sports photography with Sony A500
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Travel photography information
Sony A500 Travel photography information
60
lighter than others in class (130 grams)
environment sealing
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
43
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low battery life (520 CIPA)
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus FE-5010
Landscape photography with Sony A500
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
60
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery life (520 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus FE-5010
Vlogging with Sony A500
28
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (130 grams)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone jack
9
no video recording
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5010 and Sony A500
 Olympus FE-5010Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus FE-5010 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-01-07 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3968 x 2976 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 36-180mm (5.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.6 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Highest video resolution 640x480 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 130 gr (0.29 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-42B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $130 $638