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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced July 2011
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
  • Renewed by Sony A560
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly close but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-11 was revealed 24 months later than the A500 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the SZ-11 grades against the A500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony A500

 SZ-11 A500 
ReleasedJuly 2011August 2009Fresher by 24 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus SZ-11

 A500 SZ-11 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A500

 SZ-11 A500 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-11 offers outer measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sony A500 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the SZ-11 and the A500.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-11 and A500 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ-11 and A500.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SZ-11 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus SZ-11 will render greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The more recent SZ-11 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography features
Sony A500 Portrait photography features
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
63
focusing manually
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography info
Sony A500 Sports photography info
43
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography factors
Sony A500 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than competition (226g)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse function
not so great battery (200 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
43
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography advice
Sony A500 Landscape photography advice
40
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (520 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focus
lighter than competition (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
9
no video
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony A500
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-07-27 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lbs) 630g (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 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 200 images 520 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $253 $638