Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic FS15

The following is a extended review of the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic FS15, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-600 (12MP) and the FS15 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-600 (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-600 was launched 8 months after the FS15 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-600 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-600 scores against the FS15 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-600 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-600 Gallery and Panasonic FS15 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-600 comes with outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) and the Panasonic FS15 has dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic FS15 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-600 versus the FS15.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-600 and FS15 is 71 and 95 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by checking out technical specs. The picture below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-600 and FS15.

As you have seen, both the cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-600 features the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF less difficult. The more recent E-600 will have a benefit in sensor tech.