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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Expand to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Released October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Here is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic SZ8, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-500 was brought out 9 years earlier than the SZ8 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-500 scores against the SZ8 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic SZ8

 E-500 SZ8 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus E-500

 SZ8 E-500 
ReleasedJanuary 2014October 2005Fresher by 99 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k215kCrisper screen (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic SZ8

 E-500 SZ8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera, you have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 provides exterior measurements 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 SZ8 has specifications of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic SZ8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-500 and the SZ8.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and SZ8 is 70 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through technical specs. The photograph underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and SZ8.

As you have seen, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-500 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ8 will resolve extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography advice
49
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (8MP)
35
resolution is good (16MP)
has face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Street photography camera
57
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than average (479g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (159g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect AF
no liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
34
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography information
52
lighter than average (479 grams)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (8 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
resolution is good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (200 shots)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography factors
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
lack of Time Lapse mode
42
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging highlights
9
can't record video
32
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Also referred to as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2005-10-21 2014-01-06
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 400 1600
Highest boosted ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 215k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 gr (1.06 lb) 159 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $275