Head to Head: Olympus E-1 vs Olympus Stylus 5010 - A Tale of Two Eras

As someone who's wrangled a dizzying array of cameras through the years - from pro DSLRs to tiny point-and-shoots - I’m always fascinated when two radically different models from the same brand land on my desk. Today, it’s a nostalgic yet compelling comparison: the Olympus E-1 professional DSLR from 2003, versus the pocket-friendly Olympus Stylus 5010 (also known as the mju 5010) from 2010. They couldn't be more different beasts, yet both carry the Olympus DNA, illustrating how photography tech and user demands took divergent paths in just seven years.

Let’s dig in and see how these cameras perform across various photography disciplines, real-world usability, and whether either fits your workflow or budget today.

Size and ergonomics couldn’t be more contrasting: the tank-like Olympus E-1 vs. the ultra-compact Stylus 5010.

Feeling the Weight: Build, Ergonomics & Handling

Starting with obvious physical differences: the E-1 is a large, solid SLR-style DSLR weighing in at 735g (body only), measuring roughly 141x104x81mm. Olympus designed it with professional users in mind, offering extensive environmental sealing uncommon at the time - dust and splash resistance for rough conditions. The magnesium alloy shell feels indestructible and inspires confidence in field conditions from landscapes in the rain to gritty street assignments.

Contrast that with the Stylus 5010’s pocket rocket form factor - a mere 126g and tiny 95x56x20mm dimensions you can shove into any jacket pocket. It’s made from lightweight plastic and lacks weather sealing, clearly built for casual, opportunistic snapshots and travel convenience.

Top plates reveal their design intentions: the E-1 sports clubs for thumbs with many dials and buttons; the 5010 keeps things minimalist.

Ergonomics-wise, the E-1’s chunky grip and well-spaced buttons cater to prolonged shooting and tactile control. It lacks illuminated buttons or touchscreens (tools we take for granted today), but the button layout is straightforward once you get used to it. The 5010 lacks any manual control dials entirely, relying on fully automatic exposure and menus.

Sensor Size & Image Quality - A Quantum Leap Apart

Central to image quality - and this section calls for some geekery - is sensor technology.

The E-1 boasts a Four Thirds-sized CCD sensor measuring 17.3x13mm (sensor area ~224.9 mm²), with a 5MP resolution maxing at 2560×1920 pixels. Though small by today's standards, the sensor size was moderate for its day and the Four Thirds system was Olympus’s pioneering standard for digital SLRs, allowing a compact form factor with quality optics. The sensor uses an anti-aliasing filter to reduce moiré, and native ISO ranges from 100 to 3200, with raw file support adding latitude for serious post-processing.

Meanwhile, the 5010 packs a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, only 6.08x4.56mm (27.72 mm²), with a whopping 14MP resolution - more megapixels squeezed onto less sensor real estate, a recipe for more noise at high ISOs and limited dynamic range. Native ISO starts lower though, from 64, maxing at 3200, but the absence of raw support and default JPEG processing limits post-shoot flexibility.

For visual comparison:

Size matters in image quality: the E-1’s Four Thirds sensor is nearly 8x larger in area compared to the Stylus 5010’s sensor.

Practically, the E-1 delivers cleaner images with better dynamic range and more forgiving highlight/shadow recovery, especially noticeable in landscape and studio portrait shoots. The Stylus 5010 shines in bright daylight but struggles with noise and detail in shadows or low-light.

Shooting Experience & Display: Optical vs No Viewfinder

Those sensors demand shooting styles matched by interfaces:

The E-1 features a pentaprism optical viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.48x magnification. It’s a true SLR experience where you see exactly what the lens sees through the glass - the tick of a shutter mirror flipping up, the satisfying sound of a mechanical shutter. The DSLR offers all the exposure modes: manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority, plus exposure compensation and custom white balance, key for creative pros.

In contrast, the Stylus 5010 has no viewfinder, depending solely on its 2.7-inch LCD screen (fixed type, 230k dots). The larger screen is useful for framing and reviewing snaps, but glare in bright outdoor conditions can make composition tricky. The camera operates fully automatically, with no manual modes, and limited exposure compensation or custom white balance beyond presets.

E-1’s small 1.8" screen versus 5010’s larger 2.7" LCD - tradeoffs between clarity for preview and composition options.

The E-1’s screen is tiny and low resolution (1.8 inches, 134k dots) reflecting pro cameras’ focus on optical viewfinders rather than live view, which wasn’t yet standard in 2003. The 5010’s live view on LCD, combined with autofocus via contrast detection, makes framing accessible for casual users.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed - Old-School Phase vs Modern Contrast Detection

The autofocus journey is fascinating here.

The E-1 uses a phase-detection AF system with 3 focus points, including multi-area AF and single AF. It supports continuous AF in burst mode up to 3fps, adequate for portraits and general photography but sluggish compared to today’s beasts. No face or eye detection though - that tech came later.

The 5010 is contrast-detection only, with single-area AF and face-tracking (but not eye detection). Burst is one frame per second, so don’t expect capturing action-packed scenes. Also, manual focus is absent.

In real use, the E-1’s AF locks quicker in good light, better suited for pro work requiring precision, while the 5010 caters to grab-and-go shooting in daylight or casual environments.

Lens Ecosystem & Compatibility

As a system camera, the E-1’s value multiplies with lens choices. It supports:

• Micro Four Thirds mount lenses (though note, the E-1 actually predates Micro Four Thirds and uses Four Thirds mount, an important distinction). The Four Thirds lens lineup included 45 lenses, ranging from fast primes to pro-grade zooms.
• The 2.1x crop factor needs consideration; a 25mm lens behaves like 52.5mm equivalent, great for portraits and general but less so for ultra-wide landscapes.

The Stylus 5010’s fixed 5x optical zoom lens (26-130mm equiv.) is versatile for daily snapshots but limited compared to interchangeable optics. The maximum aperture varies from F2.8 (wide) to F6.5 (telephoto), which also impacts low-light capabilities.

For photographers wanting growth, the E-1’s ecosystem offers tremendous flexibility at the cost of bulk and expense. The 5010 is a fun pocket companion, minimal fuss.

Image Stabilization: Going Steady

A major difference here surprises many:

• Olympus E-1 doesn’t have in-body image stabilization (IBIS).
• The 5010 includes sensor-shift IS, which helps handheld shots, especially given its smaller sensor and longer effective focal length on telephoto.

In practice, the 5010’s IS boosts sharpness in casual shots and video, while the E-1 relies on fast shutter speeds or stabilized lenses.

Performance by Photography Genre

Let’s walk through a shooter's typical genres and see which camera stands up best.

Portraits: Delicate Skin Tones & Background Blur

The E-1’s larger sensor and quality lenses deliver softer, more natural skin tones with smoother gradation and the option for shallow depth of field (especially with fast primes), creating creamy bokeh. Eye detection isn’t available but manual focus and careful AF point selection enable precise portrait capture.

The 5010 can snap faces on the go but small sensor and wide depth-of-field mean background blur is minimal at best - more snapshot than studio.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Resolution Matter

The E-1’s superior dynamic range and color depth excel here, capturing rich details in shadows and highlights. Rugged weather sealing means no worries shooting in mist or drizzle.

The 5010’s smaller sensor struggles in high contrast scenes, often clipping sky highlights. The 14MP sensor offers higher resolution but less per-pixel fidelity due to the sensor size.

Wildlife: Speed and Reach Required

The E-1’s modest 3fps burst and limited AF points restrict action-shooting potential. However, compatibility with long telephotos (owing to crop factor and Four Thirds mount) balances this somewhat for wildlife shooters on a budget.

The 5010’s slow burst and autofocus make it a poor choice here.

Sports: Fast Tracking and Continuous Shooting

Neither camera is ideal for fast-paced sports. The E-1’s 3fps is below pro standards even for its time; 5010’s 1fps is virtually unusable.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability Key

Here, 5010’s tiny size, light weight, and quiet operation shine. The E-1’s bulk may intimidate or hinder candid shots.

Macro: Close Focus and Stabilization

5010 can focus as close as 7cm, handy for casual close-ups, often with excellent in-body stabilization assisting. E-1 relies on macro lenses, manual focus, and steadier hands.

Night and Astro: High ISO Capabilities

The E-1 shines with cleaner high ISO up to ISO 3200, more so in raw files after noise reduction. The 5010’s small sensor struggles here; noise is significant and image quality suffers.

Olympus E 1 screen back Olympus 5010 front Olympus 5010 screen back

Video: A Tale of Two Timelines

The E-1 predates consumer video, offering no movie recording whatsoever.

The Stylus 5010 offers basic HD video (1280x720, 30fps) in Motion JPEG format with audio, adequate for casual clips but limited in quality and codecs compared to today’s standards.

Power, Storage, and Connectivity

The E-1 uses Compact Flash cards, standard for pro DSLRs of its era, giving ample speed and capacity, albeit bulky media today. It connects via USB 2.0 but has no wireless features.

The 5010 uses modern SD/SDHC cards plus internal memory, making storage management easy. HDMI output allows playback on TVs - a nice bonus at this price point. However, no WiFi or Bluetooth on either camera.

Battery types differ: E-1’s capacity info is minimal, but it uses a proprietary rechargeable Li-ion pack suitable for long sessions. The 5010 uses the Li-50B battery, fitting ultracompacts and adequate for casual shooting.

Value & Verdict: What’s the Bottom Line?

Pros and Cons Summary

Who Should Buy the Olympus E-1 Today?

If you’re a photography enthusiast or pro craving a robust, all-metal DSLR with serious manual controls, weather resistance, and an extensive lens ecosystem, the E-1 - despite its age - still holds water. Its sensor size and electronic shutter design continue to produce pleasing images, particularly in portraits and landscapes, making it a worthwhile second camera or a budget-friendly entry into the Four Thirds system.

Its lower burst rate and AF points make it less viable for sports or fast action. Plus, setting expectations, its clunky interface and lack of modern connectivity might frustrate those used to today's conveniences.

Who Should Opt for the Olympus Stylus 5010?

Budget travelers, street shooters, or casual shooters who want a super lightweight, no-fuss camera that fits in your jean pocket will appreciate the Stylus 5010. Its impressive zoom range, reliable autofocus in daylight, built-in stabilization, and HD video make it an appealing all-rounder for everyday use. Its lack of raw shooting and limited manual control disqualify it from serious creative uses, but for social photography and travel, it shines.

Final Thoughts: Bridging Generations, Embracing Purpose

The Olympus E-1 and Stylus 5010 epitomize how camera technology and user behavior evolved in the 2000s, from bulky DSLRs demanding skill and accessories, to compact, automation-driven cameras striving for simplicity and portability.

Neither camera is perfect nor directly competes in the same league - pragmatically, think of the E-1 as your rugged studio and landscape workhorse, while the 5010 is your everyday casual companion. Both offer tremendous value to the right person and shooting style.

For today's buyers, if image quality and control matter most, seek out the E-1 with a suitable lens and practice patience on autofocusing and learning manual settings. But if your style leans towards grab-and-go travel snaps or street candids with light video thrown in, the 5010 remains a charming, capable little sidekick.

With that said, Olympus’ legacy of innovative sensor designs and compact systems continues robustly today - both these cameras are great study cases in those evolutionary leaps, treasured by collectors and practical shooters alike.

Happy shooting!

If you’re keen on more camera comparisons like this or want hands-on tips for mastering either Olympus body, just drop a note. I’ve got years of finger-on-the-shutter experience ready to share.

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