Reasons to choose FE-170
Released in 2006, FE-170 has about 25 mm² of sensor area, 6 MP effective resolution, and a 124 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Olympus FE-170
vs Olympus IR 500
VS
Sensor area
25 mm²
FE-17021 mm²
IR 500- Area ratio
- 1.17:1
- Absolute difference
- 4 mm²
- Relative difference
- 16.5%
The FE-170 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 2 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
FE-170MetricIR 500
6 MPEffective pixels4 MP
5.75 × 4.32Sensor5.33 × 4
2.03 µmPixel pitch2.31 µm
4.14 µm²Pixel area5.33 µm²
24.15 MP/cm²Pixel density18.76 MP/cm²
6.02Crop factor6.49
—Maximum video—
124 gWeight172 g
xD Picture cardStoragexD Picture card
AA (2) batteries (NiMH recommended)BatteryLi-Ion Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The FE-170 has the larger sensor area. The FE-170 has the lighter body. The FE-170 has the higher effective resolution. The FE-170 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose IR 500
Released in 2004, IR 500 has about 21 mm² of sensor area, 4 MP effective resolution, and a 172 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.