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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 front
Portability
88
Imaging
44
Features
63
Overall
51

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Increase to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Released October 2005
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS60
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 282g - 112 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed January 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ80
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS50
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS70
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and ZS60 (18MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and ZS60 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-500 was introduced 11 years before the ZS60 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS60 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-500 scores vs the ZS60 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic ZS60

 E-500 ZS60 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS60 over the Olympus E-500

 ZS60 E-500 
RevealedJanuary 2016October 2005More recent by 124 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k215kClearer screen (+825k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS60

 E-500 ZS60 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-500 has physical dimensions of 130mm x 95mm x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 479 grams (1.06 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS60 has measurements of 112mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-500 vs the ZS60.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and ZS60 is 70 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by seeing specs. The graphic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-500 and ZS60.

All in all, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-500 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS60 will provide more detail using its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots way more aggressively. The older E-500 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS60 as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
MP count low (8MP)
53
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS60 Street photography factors
56
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (479g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
71
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (282 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS60 as a Sports photography camera
37
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
no liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
provides tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS60 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than others (479 grams)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
MP count low (8MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
74
lighter than competition in class (282g)
has focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS60 Landscape photography features
43
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.5 inch)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
low maximum ISO (400)
no Time Lapse mode
59
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS60 Vlogging info
9
no video shooting
35
rather wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (282 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no mic port
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS60 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS60
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60
Also called as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-TZ80
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2005-10-21 2016-01-05
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3264 x 2448 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 49
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 215 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 13.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.60 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 lbs) 282g (0.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 95 x 66mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.6") 112 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 37
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 109
Other
Battery life - 320 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 3 shots / 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $600 $248