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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 front
Portability
91
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 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
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Replaced the Olympus E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-520
Panasonic ZS10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 219g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS10, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and ZS10 (14MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and ZS10 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-510 was revealed 4 years before the ZS10 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS10 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-510 scores vs the ZS10 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Panasonic ZS10

 E-510 ZS10 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS10 over the Olympus E-510

 ZS10 E-510 
LaunchedJanuary 2011November 2007Newer by 38 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS10

 E-510 ZS10 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-510 provides exterior 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) and the Panasonic ZS10 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 219 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS10 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-510 versus the ZS10.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-510 and ZS10 is 69 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions only by viewing technical specs. The pic here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-510 and ZS10.

As you have seen, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-510 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS10 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-510 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS10 Portrait photography advice
56
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
30
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS10 Street photography highlights
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than others in class (490 grams)
screen does not articulate
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (219g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS10 Sports photography features
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-510
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS10
52
lighter than others in class (490g)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
67
lighter than competition in class (219g)
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (384mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-510
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS10
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS10 Vlogging information
9
no video
34
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (219g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS10
 Olympus E-510Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
Also called EVOLT E-510 Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2007-11-23 2011-01-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 grams (1.08 pounds) 219 grams (0.48 pounds)
Physical dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Battery life - 260 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $550 $350