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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
77
Imaging
44
Features
31
Overall
38
Olympus E-400 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 Key Specs

Olympus E-400
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 435g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed September 2006
  • Updated by Olympus E-410
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS45
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Olympus E-400 and Panasonic ZS50, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-400 (10MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-400 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-400 was introduced 9 years prior to the ZS50 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-400 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-400 grades vs the ZS50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-400 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-400 ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-400

 ZS50 E-400 
ReleasedJanuary 2015September 2006More modern by 101 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k215kClearer display (+825k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-400 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-400 ZS50 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-400 provides outside 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 ZS50 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Olympus E-400 and Panasonic ZS50 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-400 against the ZS50.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-400 and ZS50 is 77 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing technical specs. The image here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-400 and ZS50.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-400 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS50 will produce more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-400 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-400 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography info
46
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
lack of manual mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
42
manual focus
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-400 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography information
60
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors (243 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-400
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-400 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography details
49
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
66
lighter than competitors (243 grams)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-400 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography details
45
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
51
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-400 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
34
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (243 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-400 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-400 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus E-400Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-400 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2006-09-14 2015-01-06
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 215 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 435g (0.96 lb) 243g (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 44
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 138
Other
Battery life - 300 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $599 $350