Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH1

Following is a extensive review of the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the FH1 (12MP) is fairly close but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and FH1 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The E-510 was introduced 3 years earlier than the FH1 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-510 matches up against the FH1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-510 Gallery and Panasonic FH1 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-510 features exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH1 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-510 vs the FH1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and FH1 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Often, it can be difficult to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by researching a spec sheet. The image here may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and FH1.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-510 having a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FH1 will render extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-510 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.