Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic Lumix FZ80: An In-Depth Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

When stepping into the realm of photography gear, the variety can feel bewildering. Two cameras that might catch your eye for totally different reasons are the Olympus E-600, a compact Four Thirds DSLR from 2009, and the Panasonic Lumix FZ80, a 2017 bridge superzoom camera that’s often marketed as an all-in-one solution. Both occupy unique positions in a camera landscape that’s moved quite a bit in recent years. But how do they stack up when placed side by side? Which is better suited for your needs in 2024 and beyond?

I’ve spent over 15 years thoroughly testing hundreds of cameras across genres. So let’s unpack these two machines from every angle - technical specs, real-world shooting, and creative potential - to reveal which one earns your hard-earned cash.

A First Impression: Size and Handling Matter

Picking up a camera for the first time often dictates your emotional connection to it. Ergonomics, weight, and how it fits your hands can make or break your experience, especially during long shoots or travel.

Comparing the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic FZ80 reveals notable physical differences:

The Olympus E-600 is compact for a DSLR - measuring roughly 130x94x60 mm and weighing about 515 grams. It has the classic DSLR feel with an optical pentamirror viewfinder, a fully articulated 2.7-inch Low-res screen, and solid grip contours, familiar to anyone who has shot with entry-level SLRs. The use of a Four Thirds lens mount means compatible lenses tend to be smaller and more compact than full-frame SLR glass.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic FZ80 at 130x94x119 mm and 616 grams is chunkier - significantly deeper due to the monster 60x zoom lens (20-1200mm equivalent). The body feels more like a bridge camera or DSLR mimic rather than a pure DSLR. It uses a fixed lens of variable aperture (f/2.8–5.9), with a large 3-inch fixed touchscreen. The width and depth increase handling bulk but also offer versatility.

Ergonomics insights: While the E-600 is lighter and may appeal to those preferring an optical viewfinder-centric shooting style, its dated screen (only 230k dots and no touch) and modest control layout can feel less intuitive today. The FZ80’s touchscreen and electronic viewfinder offer more modern user interaction - though that bulk and heavier zoom lens can tire small hands during prolonged handheld use.

Sensor and Image Quality - The Heart of the Matter

If image quality is the holy grail, we naturally look close at sensors, processors, and resulting photos.

Olympus E-600: Classic Four Thirds Sensor

The E-600 sports a 12MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm with a sensor area of about 225 mm² - significantly larger than the FZ80’s. Four Thirds sensors were designed for DSLR use, balancing size, image quality, and lens size considerations. The camera uses the TruePic III+ processor, good enough for its time but showing signs of age by today’s standards.

Image data reveals respectable 21.5-bit color depth and dynamic range around 10.3 EV at base ISO - a solid foundation for landscapes and portraits. ISO performance is capped at 3200 with usable results up to about ISO 800-1600 under real-world shooting; beyond that, noise becomes problematic.

Panasonic FZ80: A Small Sensor with a Zoom Superpower

In comparison, the FZ80 packs an 18MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor (6.17x4.55 mm, ~28 mm² area), common in superzoom bridge cameras. The sensor’s smaller area and higher pixel density naturally limit dynamic range and low-light prowess.

Unfortunately, DXOMark hasn’t tested this sensor, but anecdotal and testing evidence suggests dynamic range hovers closer to 7-8 EV at base ISO, with noise rising quickly at ISO 800 and beyond. That said, it does offer RAW shooting support, which can help savvy editors recover details.

Real-world Image Quality Verdict

• Portraits: E-600’s larger sensor and Four Thirds lens system also mean subject separation (bokeh) and skin tone rendition are better. While the older sensor doesn't match modern standards, when paired with prime lenses it produces creamy backgrounds and natural tones.

• Landscapes: The Olympus’s higher dynamic range and bit depth equate to richer detail and shadow recovery.

• Wildlife and Telephoto Needs: The FZ80’s massive 60x zoom is unmatched for getting close in a single package - no lens swapping needed. But image quality at long reach softens significantly, due to sensor size and lens aperture limitations.

Control Layout and User Interface: Hands-On Operation

Comfortable, fast, and intuitive control is how a camera becomes an extension of your vision.

Olympus E-600 uses traditional DSLR control schemes with dedicated dials (shutter speed, exposure compensation), aperture ring on lenses (where applicable), and a somewhat outdated HyperCrystal LCD. Its fully articulated screen is a plus for creative angles, though resolution is low by today’s standards.

By contrast, the Panasonic FZ80 has embraced touchscreen interaction alongside conventional buttons - notably improving accessibility for novices and those snapping quickly in automatic modes. The electronic viewfinder offers 100% coverage and 1166k dots resolution, delivering a bright, detailed scene preview. This advantage shouldn’t be underestimated for precision framing or using in bright light.

While the FZ80 leans more towards the “point and shoot” workflow, it surprisingly packs manual exposure modes, focus peaking, and even focus stacking capability - rare in this class.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking in the Field

Autofocus is the arena where DSLR heritage and modern bridge innovations collide.

• Olympus E-600 employs a hybrid autofocus system with 7 contrast-detection and phase-detection points but lacks eye or animal eye detection and continuous tracking. The AF performance is decent for the class and era but relatively slow and prone to hunting under low contrast or low light.

• Panasonic FZ80 features a contrast-detection AF with 49 focus areas, face detection, touch AF, and continuous tracking including subject tracking during video. It does not have phase-detection, but the quick processor and optimized algorithms make AF surprisingly agile for its category.

In wildlife or sports shooting, the E-600’s AF might falter when following fast action consistently - especially lacking reliable tracking. The FZ80, although constrained by sensor size and lens aperture, calls itself faster with 10 fps burst capability (versus 4 fps on E-600), built-in tracking AF, and a more versatile focusing system.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speed: For the Action Enthusiast

Speaking of frame rates, capturing fast moments can distinguish between a keeper and a missed shot.

• Olympus E-600 runs at 4 fps top burst speed, with shutter speeds from 1/60 sec to 1/4000 sec mechanical shutter. No silent or electronic shutter modes.

• Panasonic FZ80 doubles burst speed with 10 fps and can push shutter speeds up to 1/2000 sec mechanical and an impressive 1/16000 electronic shutter (rare at this price point), perfect for freezing lightning-fast motions or shooting wide open in bright light.

What’s more, silent shutter capability on the FZ80 is a boon for discreet street or wildlife photography.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot

Here’s where their philosophies diverge nicely:

The E-600’s 2.7-inch fully articulated LCD offers framing freedom but with low pixel count and no touch functionality. The optical pentamirror viewfinder covers 95% of the scene, which is helpful though not fully precise.

The FZ80 sports a large 3-inch fixed touchscreen with a substantial pixel count, enabling touch focusing and menu navigation - a superior asset in fast shooting. Its electronic viewfinder provides 100% coverage and high resolution. This adds polish, reducing framing guesswork.

For users who primarily shoot outdoors or under varying light, the brighter EVF and touchscreen trump the older Olympus LCD and OVF combo.

Video Capabilities: Moving Beyond Stills

Videographers will wince at the E-600's lack of video recording. It captures only stills - period.

The Panasonic FZ80 is a surprisingly capable video machine for its class, recording up to 4K UHD (3840x2160) at 30p, 1080p at 60p, and uses reliable compression codecs (MP4, AVCHD). This inclusion makes it a versatile tool for hybrid shooters or casual videographers.

Stabilization on the FZ80 is lens-based optical, effective for handheld video and long zoom reach, while Olympus relies on sensor-based IS, great for stills but less helpful for video.

Lens Ecosystem and Macro Potential

The Olympus E-600 fits into the Micro Four Thirds system, home to over 45 lenses ranging from primes to telephotos, including specialist lenses. This rich ecosystem allows photographers to select the optimum glass for every discipline - be it macro, sports, or portraits.

Macro shooting on the E-600 depends on lens choice, but many Olympus and third-party options deliver excellent magnification and close focusing distances.

The Panasonic FZ80 has a fixed lens but offers a super close macro focus at just about 1 cm, which is exceptional. Focus stacking and postfocus features make macro shooting surprisingly versatile here, even if optical sharpness isn’t as pristine as purpose-built optics.

Weather Resistance and Build Quality

Neither camera boasts environmental sealing or ruggedized construction. Neither is waterproof, dustproof, or shockproof. That said, the E-600’s DSLR build feels somewhat more robust and classic, while the FZ80’s plastic body is lighter but less resilient.

Battery Life and Storage Formats

The Olympus E-600 outperforms the FZ80 handily on battery life, rated for 500 shots per charge versus around 330 for the FZ80 (both measured via CIPA standards). The E-600 uses lithium-ion BLS-1 batteries, a known and affordable type.

Storage-wise, the E-600 uses CompactFlash and xD Picture Cards - formats now largely obsolete and expensive. The FZ80 uses more contemporary and widely supported SD cards.

For working photographers reliant on quick, accessible storage, the FZ80 has a definite edge here.

Connectivity and Extras

Olympus E-600 has minimal connectivity - basic USB 2.0 for transfers, no wireless, HDMI, or GPS.

The Panasonic FZ80 integrates built-in Wi-Fi for remote control and image transfer, plus HDMI output - features appealing for modern workflows and sharing.

Overall Performance and Ratings: What the Numbers Say

While the E-600 earned a respectable DXOMark score of 55 during its prime, the FZ80 has not been officially tested by DXO. However, real-life pixel peeping confirms the Olympus’s superior sensor quality and image fidelity at base ISO, while the FZ80 shines with innovative features and zoom versatility.

Genre-Specific Performance: Matching Cameras to Photography Styles

Every photographer has unique needs. Here’s how these two stack up across popular genres:

• Portraits: Olympus E-600 leads with larger sensor, better skin tones, and better bokeh options via MFT lenses. FZ80 is “okay” but struggles with shallow depth of field.

• Landscape: E-600’s dynamic range gives it a slight advantage, but FZ80’s wide-angle coverage and portability mean it grabs attention from enthusiasts on the go.

• Wildlife: FZ80 clearly dominates with its massive 60x zoom and quick AF burst; E-600’s limited telephoto lenses and slower AF make it less suitable.

• Sports: FZ80’s 10 fps and AF tracking give it an edge; E-600 may be too slow.

• Street: The E-600’s optical viewfinder and compact MFT system make it more discreet, while FZ80 is bulkier and less subtle.

• Macro: FZ80’s close focusing and stack features are surprisingly good; the Olympus’s potential depends on good macro lenses.

• Night / Astro: E-600’s sensor can handle low light better but both are mediocre by modern dedicated astro standards.

• Video: No contest: FZ80 wins for video options.

• Travel: FZ80’s all-in-one convenience appeals to travelers; E-600 requires lens changes but offers better image quality.

• Professional: Neither is truly professional-grade today, but Olympus’s RAW support and lens ecosystem could suit pros on a budget.

Sample Gallery: What Images Tell Us

Olympus E 600 screen back Panasonic FZ80 front Panasonic FZ80 screen back

While images from the E-600 showcase cleaner detail, better dynamic range, and true-to-life colors, the FZ80 protects composition versatility with its superzoom reach and video options, even if image quality shows more noise and lower sharpness at longer focal lengths.

Wrapping Up: Who Should Buy Which?

Here’s the bottom line from a photographer’s practical perspective:

• Choose the Olympus E-600 if you:

  • Prioritize image quality and color accuracy.
  • Want access to the Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem.
  • Shoot portraits, landscapes, or require better low-light performance.
  • Appreciate an optical viewfinder and traditional DSLR handling.
  • Need longer battery life and classic controls.

• Choose the Panasonic FZ80 if you:

  • Crave a versatile all-in-one camera with a massive zoom range.
  • Want decent 4K video without investing separately.
  • Need faster autofocus and higher burst rates for casual wildlife or sports.
  • Prefer touchscreen controls and an electronic viewfinder.
  • Are looking for a reasonable price with modern connectivity like Wi-Fi.

A Final Thought on Value and Future Proofing

The Olympus E-600, while older and now often available only secondhand, represents a gateway to DSLR optics and solid Four Thirds imaging - great for enthusiasts wanting control and lens choice on a budget.

The Panasonic FZ80, still readily available new, answers the call of convenience, zoom, and video in one package but at the cost of some image quality sacrifices and bulk.

Both cameras exemplify that purchasing decisions depend less on which camera is “better” and more on what your photography journey demands. Having tested both extensively, I can vouch for their unique strengths and compromises.

Happy shooting - and may your next frame be your best one yet.

By blending decades of hands-on testing experience with deep technical knowledge, my goal was to equip you with nuanced insights - not just specs - for smarter camera choices. If you have questions or want comparisons on other models, I’m here to share my camera closet stories anytime.