Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic Lumix GX8: A Comprehensive Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

Selecting the right camera has always been a tactical decision - balancing ergonomics, imaging capabilities, handling, and feature set against your shooting needs and budget. Today, I’m diving deep into a head-to-head between two Micro Four Thirds-format cameras from different generations and design philosophies: the Olympus E-510, a classic mid-2000s DSLR, and the Panasonic Lumix GX8, a feature-packed 2015 flagship mirrorless. While they share sensor format lineage, they cater to distinct photographer archetypes.

Drawing on extensive hands-on testing and analysis, I’ll break down how these two contenders perform across major photography disciplines, scrutinize their technical underpinnings, and offer candid recommendations. Whether you’re a portrait pro, wildlife enthusiast, budding landscape artist, or multimedia creator, this comparison aims to empower your purchase decision.

First Impressions: Form Factor and Handling

At a glance, the Olympus E-510 embraces the traditional mid-size SLR body with a pentamirror optical viewfinder, delivering a familiarity reminiscent of film-era SLRs. In contrast, the Panasonic GX8 sports a sleeker, rangefinder-style mirrorless silhouette with its hallmark compactness and tilt-friendly stance, hinting at modern mirrorless agility.

Physically, the bodies are surprisingly close in weight - 490g vs. 487g - though the E-510 measures a chunk taller and deeper (136x92x68mm against the GX8’s 133x78x63mm), factoring in its optical pentamirror assembly versus the sleek electronic viewfinder bulge on the Panasonic.

Ergonomics wise, the E-510’s deeper grip offers a confident, planted hold for those accustomed to DSLRs, especially for extended handheld shooting sessions. The GX8’s slimmer grip feels crisper and less bulky, better serving street and travel photographers prioritizing low profile and pocketability without sacrificing stability.

The Olympus’ button layout is straightforward but noticeably dated, lacking illuminated buttons and touchscreen control, somewhat hindering quick operation in low light. The Panasonic counters with a fully articulated 3” touchscreen and customizable controls, synergizing well with its electronic interface.

Navigation and User Interface: Old School Meets New School

On the Olympus E-510, the reliance on physical dials and buttons reflects the era’s design - aperture and shutter priority are dedicated modes, yet you won’t find an advanced metering system or customizable function buttons. The absence of a touchscreen may seem archaic today but provides solid tactile feedback for those preferring physical switches.

The Panasonic GX8 steps forward with a high-resolution OLED electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) offering 100% coverage and 0.77x magnification, an ergonomic jump over the E-510’s 95% coverage, 0.46x magnification pentamirror viewfinder that also lacks focus confirmation. This upgrade alone significantly impacts compositional confidence, especially for professionals.

Furthermore, the GX8’s back screen is a fully articulated touchscreen with 1040k dots - a vast leap over the E-510’s fixed 2.5” 230k-dot display. This enhances live view flexibility for vlogging, low-angle macro work, or overhead street shots.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: A Tale of Two Eras

Both cameras leverage Four Thirds sensors with identical physical dimensions - 17.3 x 13 mm sensors affording a 2.1x crop factor - but that’s where similarities taper off. The Olympus E-510 sports a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor, pioneering for its time, while the Panasonic GX8 upgrades to a 20-megapixel CMOS sensor with improved back-end image processing through its Venus Engine.

DxOMark scores underline the generational gulf:

• Olympus E-510 overall: 52
• Panasonic GX8 overall: 75

This translates into a significant difference in color depth (21.2-bit vs. 23.5-bit), dynamic range (10.0 EV vs. 12.6 EV), and low-light ISO performance (442 vs. 806 usable ISO).

Why does this matter? In landscape and architectural photography, the GX8’s better dynamic range preserves highlight and shadow detail, critical when shooting high-contrast scenes. The Olympus can excel in good light but struggles when dynamic range stretches.

The GX8’s native ISO range extends from 200–25,600 (expandable down to 100), a benchmark for enthusiast cameras, while the E-510 settles into a more conservative 100–1600. This impacts usability for night, street, and event photography considerably.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Precision Showdown

Olympus equipped the E-510 with a three-point phase-detection AF system - minimal by today’s standards and even tenuous in 2007’s context for sports and wildlife hunting. Its active autofocus area is limited: the center and two side points offer some flexibility but fall short in complex tracking scenarios.

Compare this to the Panasonic GX8’s hybrid autofocus system boasting 49 focus points, utilizing contrast-detection complemented by on-sensor phase detection. The GX8 supports face detection, eye detection autofocus, and continuous tracking, delivering robust AF performance for fast-moving subjects, whether birds in flight or athletes mid-motion.

In field tests, the GX8 confidently nails focus with low latency at 12 frames per second burst shooting, minimizing dropped frames and missed decisive moments. The E-510’s 3 fps and less sophisticated AF struggle in action-intensive domains.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Face/Eye Detection

Portraiture thrives on nuanced skin tones, accurate focus on the eyes, and flattering background separation.

The Panasonic GX8 shines here. Its higher resolution sensor registers fine tonal gradations, while the advanced autofocus confidently locks on faces and eyes with minimal hunting. The fully articulating touchscreen aids framing creative angles effortlessly. Combined with Micro Four Thirds lenses offering fast apertures (like Panasonic’s 42.5mm f/1.7), the GX8 can produce creamy bokeh backgrounds that isolate subjects attractively.

The Olympus E-510, though limited by its resolution and AF tech, has a notable advantage thanks to Olympus’ sensor-based image stabilization. This empowers handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds - a boon for indoor portraiture without flash. That said, the E-510’s phase-detection AF is less responsive and lacks face or eye detection, sometimes producing frustrating focusing experiences.

Overall, through portrait sessions, the GX8’s combination of autofocus sophistication, higher image quality, and user-friendly interface positions it as a better choice for portrait photographers craving speed and fidelity.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Weather Sealing

Landscape shooters demand high resolution and wide dynamic range to capture intricate scenery and subtle light.

Thanks to its 20MP sensor, advanced processing, and deeper dynamic range, the GX8 clearly outperforms the E-510 in rendering crisp, detailed landscapes with clean tonal gradation. The boosted ISO range also opens shooting options during dawn or dusk when light fades.

Moreover, the GX8 offers rugged environmental sealing, protecting against dust and splashes - a critical feature for outdoors photographers. The E-510, in contrast, lacks weather sealing, demanding more caution in adverse conditions.

Both cameras support RAW capture, vital for post-processing latitude. However, the GX8’s larger file sizes benefit from higher bit depth and color resolution - translating into smoother gradients and finer shadow detail.

Olympus E 510 front Olympus E 510 screen back Panasonic GX8 front Panasonic GX8 screen back

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed, Telephoto Reach, and Burst Rates

Rapid responsiveness and accuracy underpin wildlife and sports success. The Olympus E-510's three-point AF and 3 fps continuous shooting impose limitations on capturing fleeting action or erratic wildlife.

The Panasonic GX8, with its 12 fps burst and 49-point hybrid AF, dramatically ups the ante, facilitating crisp focus tracking on erratic movement from birds or athletes mid-play.

Additionally, the GX8's compatibility with a broader Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem (107 native lenses versus Olympus’s 45) makes sourcing high-quality telephoto optics easier, with better stabilization to complement fast action capture.

While the E-510’s sensor-based stabilization remains usable, the current Panasonic native lenses often incorporate dual stabilization - both sensor and lens-based - to deliver superior shake reduction.

In sum, for anyone focused on wildlife or sports photography, the GX8 is a clear winner in responsiveness and lens support. The Olympus might appeal only if budget constraints predominate and subject motion is minimal.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion, Size, and Low-Light Performance

Street photographers prize discreet, nimble gear for candid moments. Here, the Panasonic GX8’s mirrorless design and smaller profile suit the bill, especially with silent electronic shutter modes that minimize shutter noise and camera movement.

Its 3” articulating touchscreen and tilting electronic viewfinder also aid shooting from unconventional angles in urban environments, such as over crowds or stealthily low portraits.

The E-510’s bulkier design and audible shutter noise give it away in such scenarios, while its lower ISO range can challenge low-light indoor or nighttime street captures.

Travel photographers appreciate the GX8’s versatility, better battery life (approximately 330 shots vs. E-510’s unknown but likely shorter output), and wider lens selection. The GX8’s lighter kit weight without sacrificing image quality makes it the more practical companion on long treks.

Macro and Close-Up Shots: Focusing Precision and Stabilization

Macro photography demands precision manual focusing or reliable autofocus with fine increments. The GX8 benefits from its post-focus feature - a clever focus stacking aid that lets users shift focus points via touchscreen after shooting, useful in macro work.

With greater sensor resolution, stabilization, and a touchscreen interface, this model facilitates handheld macro shooting in the field.

While the E-510 provides sensor stabilization, its autofocus system is less forgiving with precise focusing, and the lack of touchscreen reduces focusing ease under challenging angles.

Overall, the GX8 commands an edge in macro disciplines.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO Performance and Exposure Capabilities

Astro and night photographers lean heavily on clean high ISO, long exposures, and stable mount offerings.

Despite the E-510's respectable sensor stabilization, its max ISO 1600 and narrower dynamic range limit clean captures under starry skies. The GX8 doubles usable ISO reach, allowing cleaner images at 3200 and 6400, which broadens exposure flexibility.

The GX8’s electronic shutter and slow sync flash modes enhance creative timing, capturing star trails or cityscapes.

In contrast, the E-510 lacks an electronic shutter option and advanced bracketing, restricting exposure experimentation.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Stabilization, and Audio

Arguably where the E-510 shows its age, it offers zero video recording.

The Panasonic GX8, meanwhile, supports rich video features: UHD 4K (3840×2160) at 30/24p, full HD at 60/30p, various codecs including AVCHD, and built-in sensor stabilization ideal for handheld shooting.

A microphone port gives creators expanded audio options, while built-in wireless features facilitate remote control and file transfer - a godsend for multimedia workflows.

If video is a priority, the choice is immediate.

Build Quality and Environmental Sealing

Constructed in 2007, the Olympus E-510's plastic-heavy body offers decent durability but lacks any official weather sealing, demanding cautious outdoor use.

The Panasonic GX8 embraces magnesium alloy construction combined with weather sealing against splashes and dust, a feature befitting more demanding professional and enthusiast environments.

For durability and peace of mind on adventurous assignments, the GX8 pulls ahead.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras utilize Micro Four Thirds mounts, but the lens options available changed dramatically over the years.

In 2007, Olympus’s E-510 was limited to a smaller selection of 45 native lenses primarily designed for Four Thirds DSLRs, many bulky by today’s standards.

By 2015, the Panasonic GX8 tapped into a flourishing Micro Four Thirds ecosystem numbering over 100 lenses including ultra-fast primes, versatile zooms, and specialty optics, including many compact pancake lenses perfect for street and travel.

Lens availability and native stabilization go hand-in-hand, favoring the GX8’s broader, more modern choice.

Battery Life and Storage Media

The Olympus E-510 relies on Compact Flash or xD Picture Cards and lacks official battery life specs, but anecdotal reports suggest modest endurance around mid-200 shots per charge - typical for DSLRs of its age.

The GX8 accepts ubiquitous SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and delivers approximately 330 shots per battery - solid for a mirrorless of its class. USB 2.0 for file transfer exists on both but the GX8’s wireless connectivity expands operational flexibility.

Connectivity and Extras

Panasonic throws in built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for seamless smartphone integration, remote shooting, and easy image sharing. The E-510 misses these features altogether.

Both offer USB 2.0, but the GX8 serves HDMI output essential for tethered shooting and advanced workflow integration.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Choose the Olympus E-510?

Despite its age and limitations, the Olympus E-510 holds fascination as a budget gateway into interchangeable lens photography for enthusiasts with a penchant for classic handling. Its sensor stabilization helps in controlled shooting scenarios like portraiture or still-life.

If you already own legacy Four Thirds lenses and want a capable body for basic landscape or studio work without investing heavily, this camera offers value provided you’re willing to accept slower AF and no video. Photography students learning fundamentals may also appreciate the hands-on controls and straightforward layout.

Who Should Invest in the Panasonic Lumix GX8?

The GX8 suits photographers who demand versatility, performance, and modern features in one package. Its advanced autofocus enables confident shooting across wildlife, sports, street, and portraiture.

Video creators benefit hugely from 4K capture and microphone input. Landscape photographers gain from superior dynamic range and durability.

Those desiring a future-proofed Micro Four Thirds system with extensive lens choices and wireless flexibility will find the GX8 a rewarding partner.

Final Thoughts: Bridging the Past and Present in Four Thirds

From the Olympus E-510’s sturdy, traditional DSLR charm to the Panasonic GX8’s tech-forward mirrorless supremacy, this comparison underscores how camera design and technology have advanced while maintaining the compact Four Thirds sensor ethos.

If you want a no-frills, photographer’s camera for learning or casual use, the E-510 holds nostalgic and practical appeal. But for those prioritizing speed, dynamic performance, video, and overall versatility, the GX8 represents a much more capable investment aligned with contemporary creative demands.

I encourage readers to weigh these factors carefully against their shooting habits and budget - only then will the right Micro Four Thirds camera really shine in your photographic journey. This thorough evaluation aims to clarify that choice, grounded in deep technical insight and years of testing experience.

Safe shooting!