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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500

Portability
68
Imaging
59
Features
93
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M1 III
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
  • Released August 2009
  • Later Model is Sony A560
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-M1 II versus Sony A500, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the image resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and A500 (12MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 II was manufactured 7 years later than the A500 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-M1 II scores vs the A500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Sony A500

 E-M1 II A500 
ReleasedSeptember 2016August 2009Fresher by 86 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 A500 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Sony A500

 E-M1 II A500 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 II has got outer measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") having a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 II versus Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 II vs the A500.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 II and A500 is 68 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing just by checking technical specs. The visual here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 II and A500.

As you can tell, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 II because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Olympus E-M1 II will give you more detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos more aggressively. The newer E-M1 II is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography features
Sony A500 Portrait photography features
75
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography information
Sony A500 Street photography information
78
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
weather proofing
lighter than average (574g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
74
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography advice
Sony A500 Sports photography advice
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (60.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (350 per charge)
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography details
Sony A500 Travel photography details
72
lighter than average (574g)
weather proofing
provides focus by touch
MP count good (20MP)
selfie friendly display
bad battery power (350 shots)
43
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (520 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 II
Vlogging with Sony A500
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone port
lighter than average (574g)
9
no video
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Sony A500
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IISony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2016-09-19 2009-08-27
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video data format MOV, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574 gr (1.27 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 64
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 11.6
DXO Low light score 1312 772
Other
Battery life 350 photos 520 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 2 1
Pricing at launch $1,700 $638