Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic FS15

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-1 versus Panasonic FS15, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and FS15 (12MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-1 was revealed 6 years earlier than the FS15 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-1 matches up against the FS15 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Panasonic FS15 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 comes with external measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS15 has proportions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-1 versus Panasonic FS15 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-1 versus the FS15.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and FS15 is 59 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes merely by seeing specs. The pic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and FS15.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-1 using its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FS15 will show more detail because of its extra 7MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.