Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 6000 (10MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly similar but the 6000 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The 6000 was introduced around the same time to the A500 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 6000 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the 6000 matches up vs the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus Tough 6000 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A500. The whole galleries are available at Olympus 6000 Gallery and Sony A500 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus 6000 enjoys outside measurements of 95mm x 63mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.5" x 0.9") and a weight of 179 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the 6000 against the A500.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 6000 and A500 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Quite often, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing just by reading specs. The graphic here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the 6000 and A500.

All in all, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 6000 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A500 will offer you greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively.