Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FH8

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic FH8, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and FH8 (16MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-510 was brought out 5 years earlier than the FH8 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-510 scores against the FH8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-510 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-510 Gallery & Panasonic FH8 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry your camera often, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 offers physical 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 FH8 has specifications of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic FH8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-510 compared to the FH8.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and FH8 is 69 and 96 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and FH8.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-510 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic FH8 will give you extra detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.