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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
70
Imaging
42
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Raise to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Launched October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Successor is Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic ZS15, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and ZS15 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-500 was introduced 7 years before the ZS15 and that is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-500 scores versus the ZS15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-500 ZS15 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-500

 ZS15 E-500 
IntroducedJune 2012October 2005More recent by 81 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k215kSharper display (+245k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-500 ZS15 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 has physical 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 ZS15 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 versus Panasonic ZS15 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-500 versus the ZS15.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and ZS15 is 70 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements only by looking at specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and ZS15.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-500 having a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS15 will resolve more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Portrait photography camera
49
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
21
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography factors
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (479 grams)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (208 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography factors
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
no liveview
low fps (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography info
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (8MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
61
lighter than competition (208 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (260 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography information
43
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
low max ISO (400)
missing Timelapse mode
37
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (260 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
33
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (208g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Alternative name EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2005-10-21 2012-06-29
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 400 6400
Max boosted ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 215 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479g (1.06 lb) 208g (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 260 pictures
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 One One
Cost at launch $600 $279