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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 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
  • Launched November 2007
  • Additionally referred to as EVOLT E-510
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-500
  • New Model is Olympus E-520
Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

Following is a extensive review of the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic XS1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and XS1 (16MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.

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The E-510 was launched 6 years prior to the XS1 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-510 scores against the XS1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Panasonic XS1

 E-510 XS1 
Manually focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Olympus E-510

 XS1 E-510 
LaunchedJanuary 2013November 2007More modern by 62 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic XS1

 E-510 XS1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-510 has 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) while the Panasonic XS1 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic XS1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-510 vs the XS1.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-510 and XS1 is 69 and 97 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking specs. The image underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-510 and XS1.

All in all, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-510 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic XS1 will give more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-510 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography info
Panasonic XS1 Portrait photography info
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
30
good resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography advice
Panasonic XS1 Street photography advice
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (490 grams)
screen does not articulate
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography details
Panasonic XS1 Sports photography details
52
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (10MP)
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-510
Travel photography with Panasonic XS1
52
lighter than competitors (490 grams)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition in class (103g)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography details
Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography details
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
low resolution (10 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
39
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
31
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic XS1
 Olympus E-510Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Also called as EVOLT E-510 -
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2007-11-23 2013-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 3 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 2.7"
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490g (1.08 lb) 103g (0.23 lb)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 442 not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $550 $130