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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Boost to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Introduced October 2005
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Launched January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic XS1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-500 was revealed 8 years before the XS1 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-500 scores versus the XS1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic XS1

 E-500 XS1 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Olympus E-500

 XS1 E-500 
LaunchedJanuary 2013October 2005More recent by 87 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k215kSharper screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic XS1

 E-500 XS1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-500 features 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 XS1 has proportions of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") and a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic XS1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-500 vs the XS1.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and XS1 is 70 and 97 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-500 and XS1.

As you can see, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-500 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic XS1 will provide more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older E-500 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography factors
48
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no liveview
low MP (8MP)
30
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-500
Street photography with Panasonic XS1
56
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors (479 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (103g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Sports photography camera
37
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
low fps (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
41
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-500
Travel photography with Panasonic XS1
52
lighter than competitors (479g)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low MP (8MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors (103g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Panasonic XS1
43
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
lack of Timelapse mode
39
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic XS1 Vlogging highlights
9
no video shooting
31
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (103 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic XS1
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 -
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2005-10-21 2013-01-07
Body design 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 8MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 215 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
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
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 479g (1.06 lb) 103g (0.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 260 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $600 $130