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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Revealed November 2007
  • Other Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Superseded the Olympus E-500
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-520
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-510 was manufactured 5 years before the ZS20 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-510 matches up against the ZS20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-510 ZS20 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-510

 ZS20 E-510 
RevealedApril 2012November 2007Newer by 53 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-510 ZS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor 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") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-510 and the ZS20.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-510 and ZS20 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading specs. The picture below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-510 and ZS20.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-510 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS20 will deliver extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-510 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-510 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography factors
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
30
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-510
Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than average (490g)
screen does not articulate
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than competition (206 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography advice
52
lighter than average (490g)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly display
68
lighter than competition (206 grams)
has focus by touch
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (260 per charge)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-510 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
55
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5")
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
42
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery life (260 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging advice
9
no video shooting
34
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (206 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus E-510Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called EVOLT E-510 Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2007-11-23 2012-04-26
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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 490 gr (1.08 pounds) 206 gr (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $550 $349