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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
31
Overall
38
Olympus E-400 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Olympus E-400
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 435g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Released September 2006
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-410
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-400 versus Panasonic FH20, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-400 (10MP) and FH20 (14MP) and the E-400 (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-400 was brought out 4 years before the FH20 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-400 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-400 grades vs the FH20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-400 over the Panasonic FH20

 E-400 FH20 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-400

 FH20 E-400 
IntroducedJanuary 2010September 2006Newer by 40 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kClearer display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-400 and Panasonic FH20

 E-400 FH20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-400 has got outer dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 435 grams (0.96 lbs) while the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-400 versus Panasonic FH20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-400 compared to the FH20.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-400 and FH20 is 77 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through technical specs. The image here might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-400 and FH20.

As you have seen, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-400 because of its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Panasonic FH20 will render more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged E-400 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-400 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography features
46
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
lack of manual exposure
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-400 Street photography info
Panasonic FH20 Street photography info
60
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Sports photography camera
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-400
Travel photography with Panasonic FH20
49
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
64
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-400
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH20
45
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
does not have liveview
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
no Time Lapse recording
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-400 Vlogging details
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging details
9
no video
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-400 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus E-400Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-400 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2006-09-14 2010-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 215k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 435 gr (0.96 pounds) 178 gr (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $599 $179