Olympus E-520 vs Panasonic FS25

Below is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FS25, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-520 (10MP) and the FS25 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-520 (Four Thirds) and FS25 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-520 was revealed 5 months prior to the FS25 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-520 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FS25 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-520 matches up against the FS25 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-520 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-520 Gallery and Panasonic FS25 Gallery.

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-520 enjoys exterior dimensions of 136mm x 92mm x 68mm (5.4" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Panasonic FS25 has specifications of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") having a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-520 and Panasonic FS25 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-520 and the FS25.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-520 and FS25 is 68 and 95 respectively.

Quite often, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The visual here should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-520 and FS25.

As you have seen, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-520 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic FS25 will offer greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots far more aggressively.