Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS2

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic TS2, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and TS2 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and TS2 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-500 was announced 5 years before the TS2 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic TS2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-500 scores against the TS2 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-500 Gallery and Panasonic TS2 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 has 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) whilst the Panasonic TS2 has specifications of 99mm x 63mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 0.9") with a weight of 188 grams (0.41 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic TS2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-500 against the TS2.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and TS2 is 70 and 93 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through specs. The visual here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and TS2.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-500 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic TS2 will render extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-500 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.