Olympus E-510 vs Olympus XZ-1

Following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-510 and Olympus XZ-1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the XZ-1 (10MP) is very comparable but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and XZ-1 (1/1.63") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-510 was introduced 4 years earlier than the XZ-1 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-510 scores against the XZ-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-510 and Olympus XZ-1. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-510 Gallery and Olympus XZ-1 Gallery.

In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 features outer measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-1 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-510 and Olympus XZ-1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-510 vs the XZ-1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-510 and XZ-1 is 69 and 88 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The picture here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-510 and XZ-1.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The E-510 features the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult. The more aged E-510 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.