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Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500

Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
32
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus 6020
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 122g - 95 x 62 x 22mm
  • Released February 2010
  • Additionally Known as mju Tough 6020
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
  • Launched August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500, former being a Waterproof while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the 6020 (13MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly similar but the 6020 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 6020 was unveiled 6 months later than the A500 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus 6020 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the 6020 grades versus the A500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus 6020 over the Sony A500

 6020 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus 6020

 A500 6020 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus 6020 and Sony A500

 6020 A500 
LaunchedFebruary 2010August 2009Similar age
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 6020 comes with physical dimensions of 95mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs) whilst the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the 6020 against the A500.

Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 6020 and A500 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The graphic underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the 6020 and A500.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 6020 having a tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus 6020 will deliver extra detail having an extra 1MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a bit more aggressively.

Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 6020 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
28
MP count decent (13MP)
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus 6020
Street photography with Sony A500
66
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
lighter than average in class (122g)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 6020 Sports photography factors
Sony A500 Sports photography factors
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (13MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (520 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 6020 Travel photography factors
Sony A500 Travel photography factors
70
lighter than average in class (122g)
environment proofing
MP count decent (13MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
43
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery life (520 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 6020 Landscape photography features
Sony A500 Landscape photography features
40
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (13MP)
environment proofing
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
60
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (520 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 6020 Vlogging features
Sony A500 Vlogging features
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (122g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
9
can't record video
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Olympus 6020 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 6020 and Sony A500
 Olympus Stylus Tough 6020Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Otherwise known as mju Tough 6020 -
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-02-02 2009-08-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 1/4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) -
Max 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 122 gr (0.27 pounds) 630 gr (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 95 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 520 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $279 $638