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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 163g - 98 x 55 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS10
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FH1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and FH1 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FH1 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was brought out 5 years before the FH1 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-500 scores vs the FH1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FH1

 E-500 FH1 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH1 over the Olympus E-500

 FH1 E-500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2010October 2005More recent by 51 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kSharper display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FH1

 E-500 FH1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 offers external dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH1 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs).

See the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FH1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-500 against the FH1.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and FH1 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by reading specs. The photograph here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and FH1.

All in all, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-500 due to its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FH1 will offer you more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FH1 Portrait photography advice
48
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
low MP (8MP)
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography information
Panasonic FH1 Street photography information
56
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (479g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography info
Panasonic FH1 Sports photography info
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH1 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition (479g)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low MP (8 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
58
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH1 as a Landscape photography camera
43
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
lack of Timelapse mode
32
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH1 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
29
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FH1
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-FS10
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2005-10-21 2010-01-06
Physical type Mid-size 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
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)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 pounds) 163 gr (0.36 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 98 x 55 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $150