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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Announced July 2010
  • Replacement is Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FZ100, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and FZ100 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FZ100 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was brought out 5 years before the FZ100 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-500 matches up versus the FZ100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FZ100

 E-500 FZ100 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Olympus E-500

 FZ100 E-500 
AnnouncedJuly 2010October 2005Newer by 57 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kSharper display (+245k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FZ100

 E-500 FZ100 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 enjoys outside 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) while the Panasonic FZ100 has sizing of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FZ100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-500 and the FZ100.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and FZ100 is 70 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specifications. The pic below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and FZ100.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 because of its larger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FZ100 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FZ100 as a Portrait photography camera
48
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have liveview
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
54
manual focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography features
Panasonic FZ100 Street photography features
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than average (479 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
58
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (540g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography information
Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography information
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
51
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
offers tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FZ100 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than average (479g)
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
59
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
really wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (540g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography features
43
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Timelapse function
51
manual focus
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FZ100 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
64
really wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic jack
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition (540g)
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FZ100
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2005-10-21 2010-07-21
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - AVCHD
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479g (1.06 lbs) 540g (1.19 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $600 $500