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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(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 Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Revealed February 2020
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M1 II
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
  • Renewed by Sony A560
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500 Overview

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus E-M1 III versus Sony A500, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and A500 (12MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 III was released 10 years later than the A500 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a short view of how the E-M1 III scores against the A500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-M1 III A500 
AnnouncedFebruary 2020August 2009Fresher by 128 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 A500 E-M1 III 

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

 E-M1 III A500 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 III has external measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

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

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 III versus the A500.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 III and A500 is 67 and 63 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing merely by looking at specs. The photograph below will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 III and A500.

All in all, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-M1 III will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 III provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography highlights
Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
77
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
63
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
78
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
environment sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Sports photography information
Sony A500 Sports photography information
81
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (60.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Travel photography details
Sony A500 Travel photography details
79
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
43
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (520 shots)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Landscape photography with Sony A500
81
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (520 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic support
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Sony A500
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIISony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2020-02-11 2009-08-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic IX 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 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 9
Cross focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 580 gr (1.28 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life 420 photographs 520 photographs
Form of battery 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 shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two 1
Pricing at launch $1,800 $638