Olympus FE-47 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25: A Detailed Comparison for Small Sensor Compact Cameras

When diving into the world of small sensor compact cameras, two contenders from the late 2000s often come up for discussion: the Olympus FE-47 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25. While both were designed as accessible point-and-shoot options for casual photographers, each brings unique features and performance characteristics that influence their suitability across various photography disciplines.

Having personally tested hundreds of compact cameras over the past 15 years, I've learned that discerning buyers benefit enormously from understanding nuanced differences. In this comparison, I’ll guide you thoughtfully through each camera’s strengths and limitations - from sensor technologies to real-world handling - to help you pick the one best suited to your creative ambitions today.

Design and Handling: A Compact Showdown

Both Olympus FE-47 and Panasonic FS25 are compact cameras, but their form factors and ergonomics yield distinct user experiences.

• Olympus FE-47 measures approximately 98 x 61 x 27 mm, weighing about 204 grams with its two AA batteries powering it.
• Panasonic FS25 is slightly sleeker and lighter, at 97 x 58 x 22 mm and 148 grams, thanks to its proprietary rechargeable battery.

The Panasonic’s thinner build and lighter feel make it a tad more pocketable and less obtrusive - a benefit you'll appreciate for street and travel photography where discretion and ease of carry are priorities. Olympus’ slightly chunkier body with AA batteries means you can swap batteries easily anywhere but sacrificing some portability.

Neither camera has an optical or electronic viewfinder, so you’ll rely wholly on their rear LCDs for composing shots - more on which shortly.

Control-wise, both emphasize simplicity over extensive manual inputs:

• You’ll find fixed lenses on both with no manual focus or aperture controls - this is typical for entry-level compacts but limits creative control.
• Olympus FE-47 uses a TruePic III processor, while Panasonic’s processor details are unspecified, potentially affecting responsiveness and shot-to-shot times.
• Both cameras lack advanced exposure modes like shutter or aperture priority and manual controls, aiming squarely at casual users or beginners who prioritize ease of shooting.

That said, Panasonic’s slightly more varied flash modes (including slow sync) offer additional versatility in tricky lighting situations.

Sensor and Image Quality Analysis

At the heart of any camera’s imaging capability is its sensor, and here we see close similarities executed with slight tuning differences:

Both cameras employ 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors, a standard for their era and class, ensuring similar baseline image quality potential in everyday shooting conditions. Olympus edges ahead on megapixels, which can offer slight advantages in detail and cropping flexibility; however, real-world gains might be negligible due to sensor noise and lens quality factors at this class.

Panasonic’s ISO range starting at 80 (vs. 100 on Olympus) and extending via boost to 6400 marks a potential benefit in low-light scenarios, although boosted ISOs in these cameras tend to suffer noise issues. Neither supports shooting in RAW, constraining post-processing flexibility.

During my practical tests, both cameras delivered comparable dynamic range - modest by today’s standards - and tended to clip highlights quickly in scenes with bright skies. Color reproduction leaned toward neutral on Olympus and slightly warm on Panasonic, making the FS25 better for flattering skin tones in portraits.

Screen and User Interface: Your Window to the World

When the viewfinder is absent, the rear LCD becomes your critical tool for composing, reviewing, and navigating settings:

Practically, Panasonic's larger 3-inch screen provides a marginally better framing experience and ease of image review, especially in bright light, while both lack touchscreen functionality that has become standard in later camera generations.

Notably, only the FS25 offers custom white balance setting, affording you more control in mixed lighting - a key advantage if you do portraits or indoor shooting without a flash.

Olympus FE 47 front Olympus FE 47 screen back Panasonic FS25 front Panasonic FS25 screen back

Real-World Photography Performance: What You Can Expect

Let's dive into how each camera performs across different photography disciplines, starting with the most common and working toward specialized genres.

Portrait Photography

• Image Quality: Panasonic’s slightly warmer tones paired with face detection autofocus provide more natural and inviting skin rendering. Olympus lacks face detection, making manual composition marginally more challenging for beginners aiming for perfect focus.
• Bokeh and Aperture: Both cameras have similarly modest aperture ranges (F3.3-5.9 on Panasonic, F3.5-5.6 on Olympus), limiting their capacity to achieve creamy bokeh backgrounds that professional portraits benefit from.
• Autofocus: Neither camera supports advanced eye-detection autofocus or selective AF point placement, so you’ll rely on simple contrast-detection AF with multi-area focus options only.

Verdict: Panasonic FS25 stands out slightly for portraits with its face detection and better flash modes.

Landscape Photography

• Resolution & Detail: Olympus’ 14 MP sensor provides a slight edge in resolution, theoretically beneficial for large prints or cropping.
• Dynamic Range: Both cameras have limited dynamic range due to sensor and processing constraints, so managing exposure manually is less of an option.
• Weather Sealing: Neither offers environmental sealing; cautious handling in wet or dusty conditions is necessary.

Practical Advice: For landscape enthusiasts, consider supplemental tools like ND filters and tripod mounting to maximize image quality beyond what the cameras offer.

Wildlife Photography

• Autofocus Speed and Tracking: Neither is designed for high-speed autofocus or continuous tracking. Panasonic lacks the AF tracking capability entirely, while Olympus advertises AF tracking but without cross-points or phase detection - likely less effective.
• Burst Rates: Panasonic offers slow burst shooting (~2 frames per second), Olympus does not specify continuous shooting.

Conclusion: Both cameras fall short for serious wildlife use but could capture occasional static wildlife images for casual photographers.

Sports Photography

With low shutter speeds maxing out at 1/2000 second, neither camera excels at freezing fast action. The lack of aperture/shutter priority modes makes controlling exposure dynamically a challenge.

Burst rates are too slow for capturing bite-sized moments in sports. You’re better off with advanced mirrorless or DSLR models for this genre.

Street Photography

Here, portability and discretion count heavily.

• Panasonic’s smaller size and weight advantage, larger rear screen, and face detection contribute to its appeal for street shooters.
• Olympus’ bulkier design and slower exposure system slightly reduce its candid shooting capability.

Low-light street photos will be tough on both due to limited ISO performance and lack of stabilization on Olympus.

Macro Photography

• Olympus close-focuses to 3 cm, Panasonic to 5 cm.
• Neither includes macro-specific focus stacking or post-focus features.

The Olympus FE-47’s closer macro range can help capture small objects and textures with more fill-frame detail.

Night and Astro Photography

Neither camera is designed with astro or night photography in mind due to:

• Lack of manual exposure controls
• Modest maximum shutter speeds (Olympus maxes at 4 seconds minimum shutter speed)
• Limited high-ISO performance

These factors restrict the ability to capture long exposures or star trails.

Video Recording

Both cameras record still modest VGA resolution videos (640x480 at 30fps), using Motion JPEG encoding, which is inefficient by today’s standards.

• Panasonic adds HDMI output for external monitoring/playback.
• Neither supports microphone inputs or high-resolution video formats.

Given these limitations, neither is ideal for serious video work but may serve for casual snippets.

Travel Photography

Given their size and simplicity:

• Panasonic’s lighter, thinner frame paired with better energy efficiency (proprietary rechargeable battery) suits travelers well.
• Olympus’ use of AA batteries means easier on-the-go power replacement but at the cost of added size and weight.

Both can store images on SD cards and internally, ensuring ample image management options.

Professional Use

Neither the Olympus FE-47 nor Panasonic FS25 fits the bill for professional workflows due to:

• No RAW support
• Limited manual controls
• Modest sensor capabilities
• Lack of tethering/connectivity features

Technical Deep Dive: Autofocus, Stabilization, and Connectivity

The Olympus FE-47 lacks any form of image stabilization, which is a significant hindrance in low light or telephoto shots. Panasonic FS25’s optical stabilization is a real-world advantage, reducing blur and increasing usable shutter speeds handheld.

The FS25 also has HDMI output, facilitating easy image and video preview on TVs or monitors - a feature not found on Olympus.

Summarizing genre-specific utility:

Bottom Line: Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose Olympus FE-47 if:

• You want slightly higher resolution for everyday landscapes and macro shots.
• You prefer cameras powered by widely available AA batteries for travel or fieldwork reliability.
• Portrait skin tones and face detection autofocus are non-essential.
• You don't mind the compact’s slightly increased bulk for the convenience of AA batteries.

Choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 if:

• You value lightweight and ultra-portable design for street and travel photography.
• Face detection autofocus eases portrait and candid shooting.
• Optical image stabilization is important for sharper images in hand-held or low-light situations.
• HDMI output for easy playback/connection matters to you.
• You want custom white balance to improve color accuracy in variable lighting.

Final Thoughts: Making Sense of Small Sensor Compacts Today

While both cameras now feel a bit dated and limited compared to modern mirrorless or even newer compact offerings, they still serve as excellent entry points for learning photography fundamentals without overwhelming complexity.

If you seek a no-fuss grab-and-go camera with decent image quality and basic automatic aids, the Panasonic FS25 is generally the superior choice owing to better stabilization, screen size, face detection, and user experience.

The Olympus FE-47, however, will appeal to those prioritizing a slightly higher resolution sensor and the convenience of AA batteries, accepting a small tradeoff on image stabilization and customizability.

If you’re on the hunt for your next compact camera, I encourage you to handle these models if possible. Feeling the ergonomics in hand and shooting test images yourself is the ultimate test beyond specs and reviews.

Consider how each aligns with your photographic interests - landscape, portrait, travel, or casual street photography - and set your expectations accordingly. Cameras like these highlight how your skill and creativity often matter more than gear alone. Take your time, experiment, and above all, enjoy capturing moments with your chosen tool.

For further insights and hands-on reviews of digital cameras at all levels, keep exploring our articles and get started on your next photo adventure!

Images credited to product testing sessions and manufacturer resources.