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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Updated by Olympus E-510
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FS12, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was manufactured 4 years prior to the FS12 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-500 grades versus the FS12 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FS12

 E-500 FS12 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-500

 FS12 E-500 
LaunchedApril 2009October 2005More modern by 42 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kCrisper display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FS12

 E-500 FS12 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 provides external dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Panasonic FS12 has measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FS12 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-500 against the FS12.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and FS12 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by going through specifications. The image underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and FS12.

To sum up, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-500 due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic FS12 will provide extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Portrait photography camera
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
21
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography features
Panasonic FS12 Street photography features
56
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (479g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography details
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography details
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than others (479g)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography features
43
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
does not have Timelapse recording
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Panasonic FS12
9
no video shooting
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Launched 2005-10-21 2009-04-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 400 1600
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of 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 215 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 640x480
Video data 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 479g (1.06 lb) 129g (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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
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 card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $600 $228