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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500

Portability
81
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 383g - 122 x 84 x 49mm
  • Released August 2020
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M10 III
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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Refreshed by Sony A560
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M10 IV (20MP) and A500 (12MP) and the E-M10 IV (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M10 IV was released 11 years after the A500 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-M10 IV scores versus the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 IV over the Sony A500

 E-M10 IV A500 
AnnouncedAugust 2020August 2009More modern by 134 months
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus E-M10 IV

 A500 E-M10 IV 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A500

 E-M10 IV A500 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M10 IV enjoys outer dimensions of 122mm x 84mm x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 383 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Sony A500 has measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M10 IV against the A500.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 IV and A500 is 81 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to see the gap in sensor sizes merely by viewing a spec sheet. The picture below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M10 IV and A500.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M10 IV due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Olympus E-M10 IV will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The newer E-M10 IV is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
77
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW files
63
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
84
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
74
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Sports photography features
Sony A500 Sports photography features
73
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery (520 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Travel photography features
Sony A500 Travel photography features
85
connects via bluetooth
offers focus by touch
good MP (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
43
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery (520 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M10 IV
Landscape photography with Sony A500
83
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
60
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery (520 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Vlogging advice
Sony A500 Vlogging advice
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
no external mic jack
9
no video recording
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony A500
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IVSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2020-08-04 2009-08-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 226.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.7 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.20 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash options Redeye, fill-in, off, redeye 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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 383 gr (0.84 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 84 x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") 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 360 images 520 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $699 $638