Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS15

Below, we are contrasting the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS15, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the FS15 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-510 was manufactured 14 months prior to the FS15 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-510 scores against the FS15 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-510 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-510 Gallery & Panasonic FS15 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-510 has outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Panasonic FS15 has sizing of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS15 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-510 against the FS15.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and FS15 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing specifications. The photograph here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and FS15.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-510 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FS15 will offer greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.