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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
42
Overall
43
Olympus E-510 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 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
  • Alternate Name is EVOLT E-510
  • Superseded the Olympus E-500
  • Replacement is Olympus E-520
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS7
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-510 (10MP) and ZS8 (14MP) and the E-510 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-510 was announced 4 years before the ZS8 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-510 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-510 scores vs the ZS8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-510 over the Panasonic ZS8

 E-510 ZS8 
Manual focus Very accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Olympus E-510

 ZS8 E-510 
AnnouncedJuly 2011November 2007Fresher by 44 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS8

 E-510 ZS8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-510 enjoys outside measurements of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-510 vs the ZS8.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-510 and ZS8 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The graphic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-510 and ZS8.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-510 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS8 will resolve greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-510 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-510
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
56
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
30
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-510 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography advice
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors (490g)
screen is fixed
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210g)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-510 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography factors
52
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10MP)
47
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-510 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competitors (490g)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (210g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen 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 ZS8
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
44
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-510 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging highlights
9
no video
30
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (210 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-510 and Panasonic ZS8
 Olympus E-510Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-510 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Other name EVOLT E-510 Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2007-11-23 2011-07-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 3 11
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 distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - MPEG-4
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 490 grams (1.08 lbs) 210 grams (0.46 lbs)
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 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 - 340 images
Type of battery - 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
Launch pricing $550 $275