Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic S5

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic S5, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and S5 (24MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and S5 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-510 was introduced 13 years earlier than the S5 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-510 grades against the S5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S5. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-510 Gallery and Panasonic S5 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-510 features exterior measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Panasonic S5 has sizing of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") along with a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic S5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-510 compared to the S5.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-510 and S5 is 69 and 60 respectively.

In many cases, it's tough to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through specs. The picture below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-510 and S5.

All in all, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-510 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic S5 will resolve extra detail using its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-510 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.