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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 front
Portability
95
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FX90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 102 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched August 2011
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FX90, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and FX90 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FX90 (1/2.3") boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-500 was released 6 years earlier than the FX90 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FX90 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-500 grades against the FX90 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FX90

 E-500 FX90 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX90 over the Olympus E-500

 FX90 E-500 
LaunchedAugust 2011October 2005Fresher by 71 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kCrisper display (+245k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FX90

 E-500 FX90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has got outer measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Panasonic FX90 has dimensions of 102mm x 56mm x 22mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FX90 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-500 against the FX90.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and FX90 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing just by checking specs. The graphic here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and FX90.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-500 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FX90 will give greater detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Portrait photography camera
49
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no liveview feature
low resolution (8 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography advice
Panasonic FX90 Street photography advice
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (479g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
maximum ISO low (400)
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography information
Panasonic FX90 Sports photography information
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution (8MP)
30
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low resolution (8 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
60
offers focus by touch
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery (200 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Panasonic FX90
43
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
low resolution (8 megapixels)
maximum ISO low (400)
missing Timelapse mode
36
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FX90 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
34
pretty wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FX90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FX90
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90
Alternative name EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2005-10-21 2011-08-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
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 8MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
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
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.90 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lbs) 149g (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 102 x 56 x 22mm (4.0" 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
Battery life - 200 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $600 $227