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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Announced October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-510
Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Succeeded the Panasonic TS3
  • Updated by Panasonic TS5
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic TS4, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and TS4 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and TS4 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-500 was revealed 7 years before the TS4 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-500 grades vs the TS4 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic TS4

 E-500 TS4 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Olympus E-500

 TS4 E-500 
RevealedJanuary 2012October 2005More recent 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 TS4

 E-500 TS4 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 enjoys physical dimensions 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 TS4 has dimensions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic TS4 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-500 vs the TS4.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-500 and TS4 is 70 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-500 and TS4.

All in all, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-500 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic TS4 will result in greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older E-500 will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Portrait photography camera
48
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Panasonic TS4
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (479 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic TS4 Sports photography highlights
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery pack (310 CIPA)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography details
Panasonic TS4 Travel photography details
52
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
66
better than average battery pack (310 per charge)
weather proof
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography information
Panasonic TS4 Landscape photography information
43
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
no Time Lapse recording
41
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
better than average battery pack (310 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging advice
Panasonic TS4 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
32
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic socket
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic TS4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic TS4
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-FT4
Class Advanced DSLR Waterproof
Announced 2005-10-21 2012-01-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 2.7"
Screen resolution 215 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 lb) 197 grams (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 310 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $600 $399