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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Released October 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

The following is a extended overview of the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS20, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-500 was revealed 7 years before the ZS20 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-500 grades against the ZS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-500 ZS20 
Manually focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-500

 ZS20 E-500 
RevealedApril 2012October 2005Newer by 79 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k215kSharper screen (+245k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-500 ZS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-500 features physical measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-500 compared to the ZS20.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-500 and ZS20 is 70 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by going through technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and ZS20.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS20 will provide more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
48
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
30
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition (479 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
max ISO too low (400)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
lighter than others in class (206g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography advice
37
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
47
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
provides tracking focus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography details
52
lighter than competition (479 grams)
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than others in class (206 grams)
boasts touch focus
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-500
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
43
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
does not have liveview
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
max ISO too low (400)
no Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-500
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
9
no video shooting
34
relatively wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (206 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
lack of mic jack
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2005-10-21 2012-04-26
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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 215 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 lbs) 206 gr (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 - 260 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $600 $349