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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 front
Portability
72
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 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
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Renewed by Olympus E-510
Panasonic FZ28
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 27-486mm (F2.8-4.4) lens
  • 417g - 118 x 75 x 89mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FZ28, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-500 (8MP) and the FZ28 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-500 (Four Thirds) and FZ28 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was revealed 4 years earlier than the FZ28 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ28 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summation of how the E-500 grades against the FZ28 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic FZ28

 E-500 FZ28 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ28 over the Olympus E-500

 FZ28 E-500 
RevealedJanuary 2009October 2005More recent by 39 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FZ28

 E-500 FZ28 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 has got outer measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") having a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ28 has measurements of 118mm x 75mm x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 417 grams (0.92 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic FZ28 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-500 compared to the FZ28.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and FZ28 is 70 and 72 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The graphic here might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and FZ28.

Plainly, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-500 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FZ28 will provide extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older E-500 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FZ28 as a Portrait photography camera
49
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
MP count low (8 megapixels)
35
focusing manually
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Panasonic FZ28
57
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (479g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FZ28 Sports photography advice
37
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
33
great zoom range (27-486mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography features
Panasonic FZ28 Travel photography features
52
lighter than competitors (479g)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (8 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
52
built-in flash
quite wide (27mm)
very long zoom (486mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ28 as a Landscape photography camera
43
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
lack of Timelapse recording
40
focusing manually
quite wide (27mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ28
9
lack of video recording
24
quite wide (27mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic FZ28 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic FZ28
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 -
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2005-10-21 2009-01-15
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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 27-486mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-4.4
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 8.50 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 @ 30 fps, 848 x 480, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 @ 30fps, 320 x 240 @ 10fps
Max video resolution None 1280x720
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 lb) 417 gr (0.92 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 118 x 75 x 89mm (4.6" x 3.0" x 3.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 27
DXO Color Depth score not tested 17.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 79
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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $600 $599