Olympus E-510 vs Olympus FE-5020

The following is a complete review of the Olympus E-510 versus Olympus FE-5020, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the FE-5020 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and FE-5020 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The E-510 was introduced 20 months earlier than the FE-5020 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-510 grades against the FE-5020 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-510 & Olympus FE-5020. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-510 Gallery & Olympus FE-5020 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-510 has outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Olympus FE-5020 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-510 versus Olympus FE-5020 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-510 and the FE-5020.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and FE-5020 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions just by reading technical specs. The picture underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-510 and FE-5020.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-510 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus FE-5020 will deliver more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-510 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.