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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Released March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M10 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
  • Released August 2009
  • Updated by Sony A560
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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Olympus E-M10 versus Sony A500, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the E-M10 (16MP) and A500 (12MP) and the E-M10 (Four Thirds) and A500 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M10 was launched 4 years after the A500 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short introduction of how the E-M10 matches up versus the A500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 over the Sony A500

 E-M10 A500 
ReleasedMarch 2014August 2009More modern by 56 months
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus E-M10

 A500 E-M10 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 and Sony A500

 E-M10 A500 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M10 offers exterior dimensions of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) and the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M10 versus Sony A500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M10 and the A500.

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 and A500 is 82 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M10 and A500.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M10 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Olympus E-M10 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The more recent E-M10 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M10
Street photography with Sony A500
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than average in class (396 grams)
74
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A500 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M10
Travel photography with Sony A500
67
has touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
more heavy than average in class (396 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
43
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
bad battery power (520 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M10
Landscape photography with Sony A500
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
60
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (520 CIPA)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
33
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing microphone port
more heavy than average in class (396 grams)
9
no video
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Olympus E-M10 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Sony A500
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-03-18 2009-08-27
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (ISO100) 12.00 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone 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 Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396 grams (0.87 pounds) 630 grams (1.39 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 64
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.6
DXO Low light rating 884 772
Other
Battery life 320 images 520 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $600 $638