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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 490g - 136 x 92 x 68mm
  • Announced November 2007
  • Also Known as EVOLT E-510
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-520
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS16
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic FH2, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and FH2 (14MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-510 was launched 4 years before the FH2 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-510 scores against the FH2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-510 FH2 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-510

 FH2 E-510 
LaunchedJanuary 2011November 2007More recent by 37 months
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic FH2

 E-510 FH2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-510 offers physical measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Panasonic FH2 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic FH2 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-510 versus the FH2.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-510 and FH2 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and FH2.

As you can see, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-510 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic FH2 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older E-510 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Portrait photography camera
56
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Street photography camera
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (490 grams)
screen does not articulate
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography information
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography information
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with phase detect autofocus
low fps (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery pack (270 shots)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than average (490g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
72
good battery pack (270 shots)
lighter than others in class (121g)
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-510
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH2
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
low megapixels (10MP)
no Timelapse function
41
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
good battery pack (270 per charge)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging details
Panasonic FH2 Vlogging details
9
lack of video recording
32
pretty wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus E-510Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Also Known as EVOLT E-510 Lumix DMC-FS16
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2007-11-23 2011-01-05
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS 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 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 grams (1.08 lb) 121 grams (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 442 not tested
Other
Battery life - 270 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $550 $149