Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS15

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-510 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-510 Gallery & Panasonic ZS15 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.