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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
28
Overall
34

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 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
  • Additionally Known as EVOLT E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-510
Panasonic TS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.9-5.7) lens
  • 142g - 101 x 58 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FT20
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and TS20 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and TS20 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-500 was released 7 years prior to the TS20 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic TS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-500 scores versus the TS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic TS20

 E-500 TS20 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS20 over the Olympus E-500

 TS20 E-500 
IntroducedJanuary 2012October 2005More modern by 76 months
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kClearer display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic TS20

 E-500 TS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 provides outer measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Panasonic TS20 has measurements of 101mm x 58mm x 19mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-500 compared to the TS20.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and TS20 is 70 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The pic here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and TS20.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-500 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic TS20 will give more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-500 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Panasonic TS20
48
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
MP count low (8MP)
30
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography information
Panasonic TS20 Street photography information
56
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
lighter than competitors in class (142 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Panasonic TS20
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
41
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography information
Panasonic TS20 Travel photography information
52
lighter than competitors in class (479 grams)
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
MP count low (8 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
70
lighter than competitors in class (142 grams)
weather proof
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic TS20 Landscape photography highlights
43
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
no Timelapse mode
41
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
weather proof
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Panasonic TS20
9
lack of video recording
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (142 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic TS20
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS20
Also referred to as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-FT20
Category Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Released 2005-10-21 2012-01-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
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
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.9-5.7
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 2.7"
Display resolution 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 479 gr (1.06 pounds) 142 gr (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 101 x 58 x 19mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 - 250 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $600 $179