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Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500

Portability
69
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus SP-800 UZ front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus SP-800 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 3200 (Push to 1000)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-840mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Revealed February 2010
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-810 UZ
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
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Successor is Sony A560
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Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Sony A500, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is very close but the SP-800 UZ (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-800 UZ was launched 6 months after the A500 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SP-800 UZ scores against the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-800 UZ over the Sony A500

 SP-800 UZ A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus SP-800 UZ

 A500 SP-800 UZ 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Sony A500

 SP-800 UZ A500 
IntroducedFebruary 2010August 2009Same age
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SP-800 UZ features exterior measurements of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") and a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) and the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Sony A500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SP-800 UZ versus the A500.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-800 UZ and A500 is 69 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through specs. The picture here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-800 UZ and A500.

All in all, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SP-800 UZ due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Olympus SP-800 UZ will result in more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Portrait photography info
Sony A500 Portrait photography info
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Street photography information
Sony A500 Street photography information
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
74
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
47
great zoom range (28-840mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
61
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
long zoom (840mm)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
43
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A500 as a Landscape photography camera
41
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
60
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery life (520 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Vlogging info
Sony A500 Vlogging info
24
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
9
can't shoot video
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Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-800 UZ and Sony A500
 Olympus SP-800 UZSony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus SP-800 UZ Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-02-02 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO 1000 -
Minimum native ISO 64 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 143 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-840mm (30.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 12 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.10 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format H.264 -
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 455 gr (1.00 lb) 630 gr (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 520 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $270 $638