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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
17
Overall
28

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FP2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 99 x 59 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2010
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FP2, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and FP2 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FP2 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was released 5 years before the FP2 and that is quite a serious difference 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 FP2 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-500 matches up vs the FP2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FP2

 E-500 FP2 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP2 over the Olympus E-500

 FP2 E-500 
LaunchedJanuary 2010October 2005More recent by 51 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k215kCrisper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FP2

 E-500 FP2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 provides exterior measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FP2 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7") having a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FP2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-500 against the FP2.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and FP2 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements merely by reviewing technical specs. The visual here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and FP2.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-500 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FP2 will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FP2 Portrait photography features
48
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FP2 as a Street photography camera
56
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (479 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (151g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Panasonic FP2
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography info
Panasonic FP2 Travel photography info
52
lighter than average in class (479 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (151 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FP2 Landscape photography advice
43
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
maximum ISO low (400)
does not have Time Lapse function
32
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FP2 Vlogging highlights
9
no video
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (151 grams)
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FP2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FP2
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2
Also called as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2005-10-21 2010-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 215k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.90 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
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
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 lb) 151g (0.33 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 99 x 59 x 19mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $600 $80