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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Renewed by Olympus E-510
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Increase to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FS42, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-500 (8MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is very similar but the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FS42 (1/2.5") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was manufactured 4 years before the FS42 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-500 scores vs the FS42 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FS42

 E-500 FS42 
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus E-500

 FS42 E-500 
ReleasedApril 2009October 2005Fresher by 42 months
Display resolution230k215kClearer display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FS42

 E-500 FS42 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.5"2.5"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 enjoys outside 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 FS42 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FS42 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-500 vs the FS42.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and FS42 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing merely by going over specs. The graphic here may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and FS42.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-500 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FS42 will offer greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
48
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Panasonic FS42
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (479g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
max ISO too low (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography details
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography details
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography features
43
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
lack of Timelapse mode
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone support
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Alternate name EVOLT E-500 -
Type Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Introduced 2005-10-21 2009-04-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 400 1000
Highest boosted ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 6.3
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 2.5"
Screen resolution 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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
Video resolutions - 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 grams (1.06 pounds) 132 grams (0.29 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
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 card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $600 $580