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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Bump to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Alternative Name is EVOLT E-500
  • Renewed by Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched June 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS5, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and ZS5 (12MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-500 was introduced 5 years before the ZS5 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-500 grades versus the ZS5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-500 ZS5 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-500

 ZS5 E-500 
LaunchedJune 2010October 2005More recent by 56 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k215kClearer display (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS5

 E-500 ZS5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-500 features 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) while the Panasonic ZS5 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-500 compared to the ZS5.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and ZS5 is 70 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing technical specs. The graphic below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and ZS5.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-500 with its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS5 will offer extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older E-500 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-500
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
48
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
does not have liveview
megapixel count low (8MP)
27
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography details
56
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (479g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
low max ISO (400)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (214 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Sports photography camera
37
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
31
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography factors
52
lighter than competitors in class (479 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
63
lighter than competition in class (214 grams)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography details
43
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
low max ISO (400)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
33
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging features
9
can't record video
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (214g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Otherwise known as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-TZ8
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2005-10-21 2010-06-16
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine HD II
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 8 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3264 x 2448 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 215k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 gr (1.06 lb) 214 gr (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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
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
Storage slots One One
Retail price $600 $300