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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus E-510
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Old Model is Olympus E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-520
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-510 (10MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-510 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-510 was released 5 years prior to the ZS15 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the E-510 grades versus the ZS15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-510 ZS15 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-510

 ZS15 E-510 
AnnouncedJune 2012November 2007More recent by 56 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-510 ZS15 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-510 comes with outer dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS15 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-510 compared to the ZS15.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and ZS15 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements merely by looking through technical specs. The photograph underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and ZS15.

As you have seen, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-510 due to its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic ZS15 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-510 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography details
56
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
21
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography highlights
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (490g)
screen does not articulate
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (208g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography info
52
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-510
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
52
lighter than competitors (490g)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
61
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery power (260 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
MP count low (10MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
37
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery power (260 per charge)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
33
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (208g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus E-510Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called as EVOLT E-510 Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2007-11-23 2012-06-29
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490g (1.08 lbs) 208g (0.46 lbs)
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 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
Launch price $550 $279