Clicky

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
29
Overall
33
Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 Key Specs

Olympus 8010
(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
  • 245g - 98 x 64 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2010
  • Additionally Known as mju Tough 8010
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
  • Renewed by Sony A560
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Olympus 8010 versus Sony A500, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 8010 (13MP) and the A500 (12MP) is fairly similar but the 8010 (1/2.3") and A500 (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The 8010 was released 6 months later than the A500 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 8010 being a Compact camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the 8010 grades vs the A500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus 8010 over the Sony A500

 8010 A500 

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Olympus 8010

 A500 8010 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus 8010 and Sony A500

 8010 A500 
IntroducedFebruary 2010August 2009Similar generation
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 8010 has outside measurements of 98mm x 64mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A500 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus 8010 versus Sony A500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the 8010 compared to the A500.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the 8010 and A500 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing just by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the 8010 and A500.

Clearly, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 8010 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh harder and the Olympus 8010 will offer greater detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively.

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 8010 Portrait photography factors
Sony A500 Portrait photography factors
28
decent MP (13MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
63
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Olympus 8010 Street photography advice
Sony A500 Street photography advice
59
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than others in class (245g)
74
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus 8010 Sports photography features
Sony A500 Sports photography features
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (13MP)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
51
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery power (520 per charge)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus 8010 Travel photography details
Sony A500 Travel photography details
64
environment proof
decent MP (13MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (245g)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
43
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (520 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Olympus 8010 Landscape photography information
Sony A500 Landscape photography information
40
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (13MP)
environment proof
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
60
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery power (520 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 8010 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A500 as a Vlogging camera
27
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
heavier than others in class (245g)
9
can't record video
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus 8010 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 8010 and Sony A500
 Olympus Stylus Tough 8010Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Other name mju Tough 8010 -
Category Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-02-02 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 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
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4272 x 2848
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.9-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1/4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160s
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 file 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245g (0.54 lb) 630g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 64 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") 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 - 520 photographs
Type of battery - 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 pricing $600 $638