Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS1

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic ZS1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the ZS1 (10MP) is relatively close but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-510 was manufactured 17 months prior to the ZS1 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the E-510 matches up versus the ZS1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-510 Gallery and Panasonic ZS1 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-510 features outside dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS1 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-510 versus Panasonic ZS1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-510 against the ZS1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and ZS1 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to visualize the difference in sensor sizes just by researching a spec sheet. The image here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and ZS1.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have the same resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The E-510 has the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The more aged E-510 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.