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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
70
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38
Olympus E-500 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Olympus E-500
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 400 (Push to 1600)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 479g - 130 x 95 x 66mm
  • Revealed October 2005
  • Also referred to as EVOLT E-500
  • Later Model is Olympus E-510
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the E-500 (8MP) and ZS8 (14MP) and the E-500 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-500 was manufactured 6 years prior to the ZS8 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-500 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-500 scores vs the ZS8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-500 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-500 ZS8 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-500

 ZS8 E-500 
LaunchedJuly 2011October 2005Newer by 69 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution230k215kClearer screen (+15k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-500 ZS8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-500 comes with outer 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 ZS8 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-500 and the ZS8.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-500 and ZS8 is 70 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through specifications. The pic underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-500 and ZS8.

To sum up, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-500 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will show more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-500 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-500 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS8 Portrait photography features
48
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
30
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Street photography camera
56
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competitors (479g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
low maximum ISO (400)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-500
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
37
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
no liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competitors (479 grams)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
low megapixels (8MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition (210g)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-500 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
43
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
low maximum ISO (400)
doesn't have Timelapse function
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-500 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging details
9
no video shooting
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
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Olympus E-500 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-500 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus E-500Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-500 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also Known as EVOLT E-500 Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2005-10-21 2011-07-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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
Highest Possible resolution 3264 x 2448 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 1600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 215 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.45x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
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) 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest 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 - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 479 grams (1.06 pounds) 210 grams (0.46 pounds)
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 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 - 340 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $600 $275