Olympus E-620 vs Panasonic FZ100

Below is a extensive analysis of the Olympus E-620 and Panasonic FZ100, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-620 (12MP) and the FZ100 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the E-620 (Four Thirds) and FZ100 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-620 was unveiled 12 months prior to the FZ100 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-620 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-620 grades versus the FZ100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-620 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-620 Gallery and Panasonic FZ100 Gallery.

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-620 provides exterior measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ100 has dimensions of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") having a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-620 and Panasonic FZ100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-620 compared to the FZ100.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-620 and FZ100 is 71 and 67 respectively.

Usually, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-620 and FZ100.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-620 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FZ100 will show more detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-620 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.