Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH3

The following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic FH3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and FH3 (14MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and FH3 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-510 was revealed 3 years earlier than the FH3 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-510 matches up against the FH3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-510 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-510 Gallery & Panasonic FH3 Gallery.

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 enjoys external measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Panasonic FH3 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic FH3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the E-510 and the FH3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and FH3 is 69 and 94 respectively.

Often, it's tough to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions merely by researching specifications. The picture underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and FH3.

Plainly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-510 with its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Panasonic FH3 will render greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged E-510 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.