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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Later Model is Olympus E-520
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic FS42, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and FS42 (1/2.5") posses totally different sensor size.

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The E-510 was revealed 17 months before the FS42 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-510 scores against the FS42 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Panasonic FS42

 E-510 FS42 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus E-510

 FS42 E-510 
IntroducedApril 2009November 2007Fresher by 17 months

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic FS42

 E-510 FS42 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.5"2.5"Same screen size
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-510 features outside measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Panasonic FS42 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic FS42 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-510 vs the FS42.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and FS42 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing simply by seeing technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and FS42.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-510 uses the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The older E-510 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography advice
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
19
manual focus not available
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FS42 Street photography highlights
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (490 grams)
screen does not articulate
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
maximum ISO low (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography details
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography details
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography highlights
52
lighter than competitors in class (490g)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-510
Landscape photography with Panasonic FS42
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.5")
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-510
Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
9
no video shooting
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus E-510Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Also Known as EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2007-11-23 2009-04-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1000
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 6.3
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 640x480
Video format - Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490g (1.08 pounds) 132g (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $550 $580