Clicky

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
26
Overall
33

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 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
  • Launched October 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FH25
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 99 x 57 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS35
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FH25, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and FH25 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FH25 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The E-500 was launched 6 years earlier than the FH25 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH25 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-500 matches up versus the FH25 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FH25

 E-500 FH25 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH25 over the Olympus E-500

 FH25 E-500 
LaunchedJanuary 2011October 2005More modern by 63 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kClearer display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FH25

 E-500 FH25 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 has got outer dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Panasonic FH25 has sizing of 99mm x 57mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FH25 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-500 against the FH25.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and FH25 is 70 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by going over technical specs. The pic below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and FH25.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-500 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FH25 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FH25 Portrait photography information
48
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview
resolution not great (8MP)
34
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography info
Panasonic FH25 Street photography info
56
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (479 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography info
Panasonic FH25 Sports photography info
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (8MP)
40
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking focus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Panasonic FH25
52
lighter than others in class (479g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
65
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH25
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
doesn't have Timelapse function
38
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Panasonic FH25 Vlogging features
9
can't shoot video
31
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FH25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FH25
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-FS35
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2005-10-21 2011-01-05
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine VI
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 215k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.80 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720p (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lb) 159 grams (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 99 x 57 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
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
Battery life - 250 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $600 $180