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Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28
Olympus Stylus Tough 6000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus 6000
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 50 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 179g - 95 x 63 x 22mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Also referred to as mju Tough 6000
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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 6000 over the Sony A500

 6000 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus 6000

 A500 6000 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus 6000 and Sony A500

 6000 A500 
AnnouncedJuly 2009August 2009Similar generation
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 size comparison

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

Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 6000 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A500 Portrait photography highlights
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus 6000 Street photography info
Sony A500 Street photography info
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
74
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 6000 Sports photography details
Sony A500 Sports photography details
33
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 6000 Travel photography advice
Sony A500 Travel photography advice
61
weather proof
built-in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
43
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
not so great battery (520 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus 6000
Landscape photography with Sony A500
35
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (520 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 6000 Vlogging factors
Sony A500 Vlogging factors
28
relatively wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus 6000 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 6000 and Sony A500
 Olympus Stylus Tough 6000Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus Tough 6000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Otherwise known as mju Tough 6000 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2009-07-01 2009-08-27
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 50 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-102mm (3.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.1 -
Macro focus range 2cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/4 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Max video resolution 640x480 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 179 gr (0.39 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 63 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.5" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $259 $638