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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS16
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FH2, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and FH2 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was revealed 6 years prior to the FH2 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-500 grades against the FH2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-500 FH2 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-500

 FH2 E-500 
RevealedJanuary 2011October 2005More modern by 63 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kSharper display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FH2

 E-500 FH2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 has physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH2 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FH2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-500 compared to the FH2.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and FH2 is 70 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over specs. The image below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and FH2.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-500 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FH2 will deliver extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography highlights
48
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
33
MP count decent (14MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography info
Panasonic FH2 Street photography info
56
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (479 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus by touch
lighter than competitors (121g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Panasonic FH2
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
good battery power (270 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than competitors (479 grams)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
72
good battery power (270 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (121g)
provides focus by touch
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography details
43
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
no Time Lapse function
41
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
good battery power (270 shots)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Panasonic FH2
9
no video
32
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Alternative name EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-FS16
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2005-10-21 2011-01-05
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine IV
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 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 215k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lbs) 121 grams (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
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
Battery life - 270 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $600 $149