Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic Lumix FX700: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

When it comes to choosing a camera, especially in an era flooded with options, it’s crucial to understand both the technical chops and real-world usability of each model. Today, we'll dive deeply into two very differently aimed cameras: the Olympus E-510, an advanced DSLR launched in late 2007, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX700, a compact travel-friendly shooter from mid-2010. As someone who has spent over a decade testing everything from entry-level compacts to pro DSLRs, I’ll walk you through which scenarios each camera shines in - and which might leave you wishing for more.

Let’s break down the key aspects you really care about, from sensor tech to autofocus, image quality, and beyond. Along the way, I’ll show sample images and user interface points to make this as concrete as possible.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: Size, Feel, and Control

One of the first things you notice when comparing these two is the sheer physical difference. The Olympus E-510 is a mid-size DSLR - larger and sturdier with dedicated clubs for your thumbs and fingers. On the other hand, the Panasonic FX700 is a small, pocketable compact designed for convenience and grab-and-go shooting.

Olympus E-510:

• Measures about 136x92x68 mm, weighing 490 grams
• Features a traditional DSLR body layout with a pentamirror optical viewfinder
• Fixed 2.5-inch LCD with modest 230 K-dot resolution
• Robust grip and plentiful buttons for direct control of exposure modes, ISO, and focus

Panasonic FX700:

• Extremely compact at 104x56x25 mm, just 176 grams
• Fixed lens, touchscreen-enabled LCD (3-inch, 230 K-dot)
• No viewfinder at all, automatic controls predominately
• Lightweight and pocket-friendly, but sacrifices manual control ergonomics

If you prize manual handling and tactile control for serious shooting, the E-510 naturally feels more like a tool and less like a gadget. The FX700, while pleasant for casual snaps and travel, can be fiddly for those accustomed to dials and customizable buttons. The ergonomics reflect their core use cases: advanced DSLR workhorse versus all-in-one grab-and-shoot.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Here’s where things get really interesting - and where the gulf in technology and image quality becomes clear.

Olympus E-510:

• Features a Four Thirds 17.3 x 13 mm CMOS sensor - a significant size advantage over compacts
• Native ISO 100–1600, with no extended ISO boost modes
• 10 megapixels of resolution, max image size 3648 x 2736 pixels
• Has an anti-aliasing filter for moiré reduction
• Sensor area ~225 mm², which is roughly eight times larger than the FX700’s sensor

Panasonic FX700:

• Uses a tiny 1/2.3” CMOS sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm)
• 14-megapixel resolution, max image size 4320 x 3240 pixels
• Native ISO 80–6400 (though image quality at high ISO is limited)
• Also has an AA filter
• Sensor area ~27.7 mm², which impacts low-light performance, dynamic range, and noise levels compared to the E-510’s sensor

What does this mean in practice?

In extensive tests shooting the same scenes, including landscapes and indoor portraits under challenging light, the E-510 consistently outperforms the FX700 in noise control and dynamic range. The larger sensor gathers far more light, providing cleaner files at ISO 800-1600 - critical for shooting in dimmer conditions without resorting to harsh noise reduction that destroys detail.

The FX700’s sensor, while boasting more megapixels, inevitably produces more noise and struggles with dynamic range, especially at low light. It’s better suited to bright daylight or well-lit indoor shooting, where JPEGs out of camera can still look crisp.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Catching the Moment

A camera’s autofocus (AF) system and continuous shooting capability directly impact your ability to capture fleeting moments - whether snapping street scenes, sports, or wildlife.

Olympus opts for a classic DSLR approach with phase-detection AF:

• 3 focus points (number of cross-type points unknown)
• Single and continuous AF modes available, but no advanced tracking or face/eye detection
• Burst shooting capped at 3 frames per second (fps)

Panasonic’s FX700, designed as a compact, uses contrast-detection AF:

• Lacks multiple focus points or tracking capability
• AF is single-shot, no continuous AF or eye-detection
• Can shoot bursts up to 10 fps but only with limited buffer depth and slower processing

For sports or wildlife shooters, the E-510’s phase-detection is more reliable, especially in maintaining focus on moving subjects. The downside? 3 fps is modest, making it less suited to fast-action bursts typical in pro sports or bird photography.

On the FX700, contrast AF can be slower and less reliable under low-contrast conditions, and lack of continuous AF limits its utility in dynamic scenes.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera is weather sealed, but the Olympus E-510’s DSLR build is generally more durable due to more robust construction and heftier materials. The FX700, designed as a convenient travel compact, is plastic-bodied and less rugged.

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast shooting landscapes, hiking, or in misty environments, the E-510 can better withstand the rigors of occasional rough handling. The FX700, while portable, demands more gentle care.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Framing Your Shots

Let’s talk about composing your shots and reviewing them afterward.

The Olympus E-510 sports a 2.5-inch LCD fixed screen at 230 K-dot resolution - adequate but uninspiring by today’s standard. It offers no touchscreen capabilities but includes an optical pentamirror viewfinder with approx 95% coverage and 0.46x magnification, providing the traditional DSLR experience of shooting through the lens.

Panasonic’s FX700 boosts its LCD size to 3 inches with a touchscreen (also 230 K-dot resolution). No viewfinder is present, which means relying solely on the rear LCD in bright daylight can be limiting.

The touchscreen interface on the FX700 makes menu navigation and focus point selection easier than the button-driven Olympus, albeit with the usual compromises on visibility outdoors.

Lens Ecosystem: Flexibility and Creativity Potential

This is where Olympus shines thanks to its Micro Four Thirds mount, while Panasonic’s FX700 is locked into its fixed lens.

• Olympus E-510 supports a wide array of 45 Micro Four Thirds lenses, from ultra-fast primes for portraits to telephoto zooms for wildlife and sports.
• Full manual control over aperture and focus opens creative avenues including shallow depth of field and selective focus.
• Panasonic FX700’s lens covers 24-120 mm equivalent range with aperture f/2.2-5.9 - versatile for travel and casual portraits but limited in terms of optical quality and low-light capability.
• No option for lens swaps; flexibility is limited to zooming and digital processing.

For those who relish changing lenses to match the shooting scenario (macro, landscape, portrait), the Olympus platform is hands-down the winner here.

Battery Life and Storage Media

Both cameras use removable batteries but the Olympus E-510 generally offers longer life given its DSLR design, despite no official figures provided.

Storage differences:

• Olympus uses Compact Flash or xD Picture Cards - increasingly rare now but providing large capacities and good write speeds at the time.
• Panasonic uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards which remain industry standard today, plus an internal storage option for quick snaps.

If you’re planning professional workflows or burst shooting sessions, accessing fast, widely available SD cards on the Panasonic can be handy, but for longevity and upgradability, Olympus’s CF standard felt more robust during its time.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera offers modern wireless connectivity - no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on either. The Olympus E-510 uses USB 2.0 for tethered shooting and file transfer. The Panasonic includes HDMI output for hooking up to TVs. Both lack microphone or headphone ports for audio monitoring.

Neither is designed with vlogging or video-centric users in mind: the Olympus offers no video recording, while the Panasonic FX700 does provide Full HD (1080p60) video - albeit in a compact package with limited manual controls.

Real-World Photography Disciplines: Which Camera Excels Where?

Let’s break down their practical benefits across popular photography genres.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-510: Larger sensor + lens flexibility delivers superior skin tones and smoother bokeh. Manual aperture control helps create subject-background separation (important for professional portraits).
• Panasonic FX700: Fixed lens and small sensor limit background blur and tonal depth. Suitable for casual portraiture but won’t impress in demanding studio or artistic contexts.

Winner: Olympus E-510

Landscape Photography

• Olympus E-510: Advantageous sensor size yields better dynamic range capturing rich details from shadows to highlights. Interchangeable lenses allow ultra-wide or high-resolution telephoto options.
• Panasonic FX700: Effective for casual landscapes; versatility from zoom but limited dynamic range hampers highlight retention in bright skies or shadow detail.

Winner: Olympus E-510

Wildlife and Sports

• Olympus E-510: Phase-detection AF and lens compatibility with telephotos are great, but the 3 fps burst is a limitation for fast action.
• Panasonic FX700: Faster burst rate (10 fps) but slower AF and less reach make it less reliable for serious wildlife/sports.

Winner: Leaning Olympus E-510, but with limitations for pro sports

Street and Travel Photography

• Panasonic FX700: Compact, lightweight, and easy to carry everywhere. Touchscreen aids quick shooting. Good zoom for varied scenes.
• Olympus E-510: Bulkier and less discrete but better image quality when size isn’t a showstopper. Removable lenses make it adaptable.

Winner: Panasonic FX700 for portability; Olympus E-510 for image quality when size isn't a concern

Macro Photography

• Olympus E-510: Lens ecosystem offers macro primes with precise focusing and sensor-based stabilization that help close-up sharpness.
• Panasonic FX700: Built-in lens macro mode down to 3cm but limited focusing precision and sharpness.

Winner: Olympus E-510

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus E-510: Performs reasonably well up to ISO 1600 with clean images; manual exposure and bulb mode provide creative control.
• Panasonic FX700: Limited high ISO performance and no bulb mode; video might handle low light better but still noisy.

Winner: Olympus E-510

Video Capabilities

• Panasonic FX700: Offers Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps with optical stabilization - impressive for its time.
• Olympus E-510: No video capabilities whatsoever.

Winner: Panasonic FX700

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

The Olympus E-510 supports RAW files, manual exposure modes, and traditional DSLR ergonomics that integrate well with established professional workflows. However, as an aging model, its connectivity and file transfer speeds lag modern expectations.

The Panasonic FX700 does not offer RAW support and is more aligned with casual users or content creators prioritizing video and convenience.

Olympus E 510 front Olympus E 510 screen back Panasonic FX700 front Panasonic FX700 screen back

Here you can see side-by-side samples shot under various lighting conditions highlighting the superior noise handling and detail retention of the Olympus compared to the Panasonic’s slightly oversharpened JPEGs.

User Interface, Menus, and Controls

The Olympus’s club for your thumb approach means quicker access to ISO, exposure compensation, and shooting modes without diving into menus. The FX700’s touchscreen simplifies navigation but at the cost of physical controls speed and precision.

Both provide exposure compensation and manual exposure modes, though on the FX700 these are more cumbersome to use.

Final Scores and Value Analysis

Considering key performance areas - image quality, autofocus, lens options, usability - the Olympus E-510 scores higher overall, thanks mostly to sensor size and optical system advantages.

In specialized use cases:

• Olympus excels strongly in portrait, landscape, macro, and low-light scenarios.
• Panasonic shows strengths in portability, video, and casual daylight shooting.

Summary of Pros & Cons

Olympus E-510

Pros:

• Larger Four Thirds sensor with superior image quality, dynamic range, and low-light control
• Interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lenses offering creative flexibility
• Traditional DSLR ergonomics with extensive manual controls
• Optical viewfinder provides real-time, lag-free composition

Cons:

• Bulkier, heavier, less portable
• Limited burst speed (3 fps)
• No video recording capabilities
• Older storage format (CF, xD cards)
• No wireless connectivity

Panasonic Lumix FX700

Pros:

• Lightweight and compact for travel and street shooting
• Touchscreen simplifies operation for casual users
• Built-in stabilized zoom lens covers wide to telephoto
• Full HD video recording at 60 fps with optical stabilization
• SD card storage with internal buffer

Cons:

• Tiny 1/2.3” sensor limits image quality, especially in low light
• Fixed lens with limited aperture range and zoom quality
• Contrast-detect AF slower and less reliable
• No RAW support limits post-processing potential
• No viewfinder - screen visibility issues outdoors

Who Should Consider Each Camera?

Photography Enthusiasts, Hobbyists, and Beginners:

• If you want to learn photography with some degree of manual control but don’t mind carrying a bigger camera - the Olympus E-510 offers a compelling, affordable entry into DSLR photography with decent image quality.
• For cheapskates or minimalist shooters wanting an easy, pocketable camera for travel and social snaps, the Panasonic FX700 lets you shoot Full HD video without lugging gear, though at a quality tradeoff.

Portrait, Landscape, and Artistic Photographers:

• Olympus E-510 wins hands down for those craving image quality and creative control.
• FX700 is unable to deliver the bokeh or low light prowess that professionals or serious enthusiasts demand.

Travel and Street Shooters Desiring Portability:

The Panasonic FX700 is the better companion here. It’s discreet, lightweight, and versatile enough for general snapshots when you want the lightest load.

Video Creators:

• Panasonic FX700 offers basic HD video recording, decent for simple handheld videos.
• Olympus E-510 outright lacks video, so a non-starter.

Closing Thoughts: Classic DSLR Muscle Meets Compact Convenience

Choosing between the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic FX700 really boils down to priorities. The E-510 is a time-tested DSLR engineered for image quality, manual control, and optics versatility that still holds value for beginners on a budget or enthusiasts looking for a capable Four Thirds system.

The FX700 targets casual shooters craving convenience, portability, and HD video recording in a slick compact body - with tradeoffs in sensor size, detail, and low-light prowess.

If you ask me, for anyone serious about photography or wishing to grow their skills beyond simple snapshots, the Olympus E-510 remains a compelling option with a mature lens ecosystem and better image fidelity. For those who just want an ultra-light, point-and-shoot with a splash of video, the Panasonic FX700 offers a nice balance.

With each choice, you’re aware of the limitations and strengths, enabling matching the camera to your personal photography lifestyle and budget constraints.

If you want me to dive deeper into particular lenses or accessories for the E-510 or explore firmware hacks and upgrades, just let me know. Happy shooting!