In-Depth Comparative Analysis: Olympus FE-47 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6

Choosing the right camera is a multifaceted decision that hinges on numerous factors - from sensor technology and autofocus performance to ergonomics and intended photographic applications. This comprehensive comparison scrutinizes the Olympus FE-47, a small sensor compact from 2010, against the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6, an entry-level mirrorless camera released in 2013. Both represent different classes and eras, offering a good case study in evaluating the practical performance and usability of compact versus mirrorless system cameras.

Drawing from extensive, hands-on testing methodologies refined over 15 years - incorporating standardized image quality assessments, autofocus accuracy trials, and real-world application scenarios - this article provides an authoritative, technical, and user-centric evaluation designed for photography enthusiasts and professionals.

Physical Dimensions and Ergonomics: Handling the Differences

Ergonomics and physical design influence how a camera feels during prolonged use - a critical factor for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

The Olympus FE-47 is a truly compact device, measuring 98 x 61 x 27 mm and weighing just 204 g. It’s designed with portability and simplicity in mind, featuring a slim, pocketable form factor that makes it convenient for casual shooting or travel use. However, its compactness comes at the expense of dedicated controls and handling comfort during extended sessions.

In contrast, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 is an SLR-style mirrorless system camera with dimensions of 122 x 85 x 71 mm and a weight of 390 g. It offers a more substantial grip, multiple control dials, and a robust shutter button placement designed to facilitate rapid access - critical for fast-paced photography such as sports or wildlife. The larger body also helps dissipate heat during longer video recording sessions and affords better balance when paired with professional lenses.

The ergonomics are further enhanced by Panasonic's emphasis on tactile feedback: the Panasonic G6’s button layout and control wheels provide nuanced manual operation. The Olympus FE-47 relies on minimal physical controls, favoring simplicity but limiting manual intervention.

Control Layout and Top-View Functionality

Beyond size, the arrangement and design of physical controls impact usability in active shooting conditions.

The top view of the FE-47 reveals a minimalistic design with a dedicated zoom lever around the shutter and a mode dial, but the absence of customizable buttons or exposure compensation controls restricts creative flexibility. Integrated flash controls are straightforward but lack advanced flash modes.

Conversely, the Panasonic G6 presents an array of dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and mode selection, providing immediate tactile control over exposure parameters. The built-in flash and hot shoe support external flashes, expanding lighting options.

This design offers advantages for users requiring quick adjustments without diving into menus - important in dynamic shooting scenarios like street or action photography.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Metrics

At the core of photographic output lie sensor technology and resultant image quality, which significantly influence image resolution, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

The Olympus FE-47 features a 1/2.3” CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm with a sensor area of roughly 27.72 mm², delivering a 14-megapixel resolution (4288 x 3216 max). The CCD sensor - while capable of producing decent images under good lighting - typically exhibits higher noise levels at elevated ISOs compared to CMOS technology. Its maximum ISO is capped at 1600, with the native base ISO starting at 100. Furthermore, its antialiasing filter introduces some softness to mitigate moiré.

In contrast, the Panasonic G6 utilizes a significantly larger Four Thirds CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm) with a sensor area of 224.90 mm² and a resolution of 16 megapixels (4608 x 3456 max). The substantially larger sensor size and CMOS architecture translate to superior dynamic range, better signal-to-noise ratio, and higher ISO capabilities - native ISO 160–25600.

Quantitative DxO Mark scores (applicable only to the G6) confirm this: a color depth of 21.3 bits, dynamic range of 11.5 EV, and low-light ISO performance of 639 demonstrate solid mid-level sensor performance for the era.

Consequently, the G6 delivers images with greater tonal gradation, richer colors, and higher usable ISO ranges, beneficial for landscape, portrait, and night photography demanding fine detail and less noise.

Rear LCD Screen and User Interface

Display quality and interface design govern usability in framing, reviewing images, and interacting with camera settings.

The FE-47 is equipped with a fixed 2.7-inch screen boasting a modest resolution of 230k dots. The lack of articulation limits framing flexibility for unconventional angles, and no touchscreen capability restricts direct interface manipulation. This small, basic display suffices for casual composition and image review but provides limited feedback in challenging lighting.

On the other hand, the Panasonic G6 features a 3-inch fully articulated TFT LCD with 1,036k dots resolution supporting touch input and wide viewing angles - a marked improvement. The articulating screen is a significant boon for macro, street, and video recording scenarios where low or high-angle shots enhance creativity. Touchscreen functionality accelerates menu navigation and focus area selection.

The G6’s combination of a high-resolution viewfinder and articulated touchscreen LCD positions it as a user-friendly camera capable of accommodating diverse shooting styles and real-time composition adjustments.

Autofocus Performance and Focusing Systems

Accurate and reliable autofocus is vital across most photographic disciplines, especially for wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The FE-47 employs contrast-detection autofocus with a limited number of focus areas and no phase-detection capability. Its autofocus is designed primarily for static subjects, with no continuous AF mode, face detection, or specialized eye-tracking functionalities. AF speed is relatively slow; users may experience hunting in low light or fast-moving subjects.

Conversely, the G6 offers a sophisticated 23-point autofocus system with contrast-detection and face detection, including selective AF area modes and tracking. It supports AF single, continuous, and live view focusing, providing flexibility. The camera’s faster processor and improved AF algorithms yield quicker acquisition and improved accuracy, particularly advantageous in fast-action and low-contrast environments.

This distinction is critical: the G6’s autofocus system enables confident action shots and subject tracking, whereas the FE-47 is better suited for leisurely or static photography.

Lens Systems and Compatibility

A camera’s lens ecosystem dictates versatility and creative potential across genres.

The Olympus FE-47 has a fixed 36-180mm equivalent lens (5x zoom) with an aperture range of f/3.5 to f/5.6. While the zoom versatility covers moderate telephoto reach, the absence of interchangeable lenses limits adaptability. Macro focusing distance stands at 3 cm, adequate for casual macro but without specialized optics.

The Panasonic G6, employing the Micro Four Thirds mount, supports over 100 compatible lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties. The 2.1x crop factor allows for extensive focal length coverage - from ultrawides (7mm equiv.) to super-telephotos exceeding 400mm (equiv.) - serving nearly every photography niche from macro to wildlife.

This system flexibility enables users to customize their setups for portraits, landscapes, macro, and sports, enhancing image quality and compositional control well beyond the FE-47’s fixed optics.

Burst Performance and Shutter Capabilities

Shooting fast-moving subjects requires rapid frame rates and swift shutter response.

The FE-47 does not specify continuous shooting rates and lacks advanced burst modes. Its slow maximum shutter speed of 1/2000s and minimum of 4s provide limited creative shutter control, and no aperture or shutter priority modes are available.

In contrast, the G6 offers 7 frames per second continuous shooting, plus shutter speeds from 60s slow exposure to 1/4000s fast shutter, enabling freeze-motion capture and long exposure creativity. The G6 supports shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes - essential tools for advanced photographers.

Image Stabilization and Flash Capabilities

Stabilization mitigates movement-induced blur, crucial for handheld shooting.

Neither camera features in-body image stabilization. The FE-47’s lens system lacks optical stabilization, so users must rely on adequate shutter speeds or stable support. The G6 depends on lens-based OIS, common in the Micro Four Thirds system, which improves hand-held sharpness when combined with stabilized lenses.

Regarding flash, both integrate built-in flashes, but the G6’s flash reaches up to 10.5m, offering more powerful fill compared to the FE-47’s 3.8m. The G6 supports external flashes via hot shoe - unlocking creative lighting - while the FE-47 lacks this capability.

Video Capabilities: Resolutions and Usability

Video functionality is increasingly relevant for multipurpose use.

The FE-47 offers basic video recording at VGA resolution (640x480) at 30 fps, encoded in Motion JPEG. This format and resolution are outdated, unsuitable for high-quality video production and lack audio input options.

The G6 presents Full HD 1080p video at 60fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, suitable for sharp, smooth footage. It also provides a microphone input, enhancing audio control, although lacking headphone output for monitoring. The articulating touchscreen facilitates easier video framing.

For users combining stills and video, the G6’s video features are substantially more capable.

Weather Resistance and Build Quality

Neither camera has formal environmental sealing or weatherproofing features. Build materials and robustness differ: the FE-47’s plastic compact body suits casual users, whereas the G6’s more substantial chassis handles longer usage periods better but is not ruggedized.

Users intending to shoot in adverse conditions should consider this limitation, possibly investing in protective accessories.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

The FE-47 is powered by 2 AA batteries - a convenient, widely available option but with limited life per charge. No official battery life rating is provided.

The G6 uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, rated at approximately 340 shots per charge, a substantial advantage for extended sessions, albeit requiring spares for intensive use. Both cameras support SD/SDHC storage cards, but the G6 extends compatibility to SDXC for higher capacity and faster write speeds.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Connectivity plays a role in modern workflows.

The FE-47 offers no wireless features and limited USB 2.0 connectivity.

The G6 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, facilitating image transfer and remote camera control via compatible smartphones - features that streamline sharing and tethering, important for modern workflows.

Real-World Photography Applications

Portrait Photography

• FE-47: The fixed lens with moderate aperture limits depth of field control and bokeh rendering. Lack of face or eye-detection autofocus affects portrait accuracy.
• G6: Larger sensor and interchangeable lenses allow shallow depth of field. Face and eye detection improve portrait sharpness and subject tracking.

Landscape Photography

• FE-47: Limited by sensor size and dynamic range, images will show increased noise in shadows and highlights.
• G6: Superior dynamic range, resolution, and RAW support enable detailed, high-quality landscapes.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• FE-47: Slow autofocus, no burst shooting, and narrow focal length make it ill-suited for action.
• G6: Fast AF, 7 fps burst, and extensive telephoto lens options support capturing fast, distant subjects competently.

Street Photography

• FE-47: Compact size aids discretion but slow AF hinders spontaneous shots.
• G6: Though bulkier, the articulating screen and fast AF lend flexibility; however, some may find it less discreet.

Macro Photography

• FE-47: 3cm macro focusing and fixed optics limit specialized close-up shots.
• G6: Interchangeable macro lenses and focus zoom assist in precise, high-magnification macro work.

Night and Astro Photography

• FE-47: High noise at ISO above 400 limits night use.
• G6: Expanded ISO range and longer shutter options facilitate night and astro shooting with better image quality.

Video Production

• FE-47: VGA video with no audio inputs severely limits video usability.
• G6: Full HD video, microphone input, and articulating screen provide a solid platform for enthusiast videographers.

Travel Photography

• FE-47: Lightweight and pocketable but limited feature set.
• G6: More versatile but heavier; better for users valuing image quality and flexibility over absolute portability.

Professional Use

• FE-47: Too limited for professional workflows.
• G6: Supports RAW format, exposure bracketing, and offers reliable performance suited for entry-level professional applications.

Olympus FE 47 front Olympus FE 47 screen back Panasonic G6 front Panasonic G6 screen back

Comparative Performance Scores and Summary

The Panasonic G6 rates significantly higher overall in industry benchmarks (DxO score: 61), indicating superior image quality, color depth, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The Olympus FE-47, lacking testing data, performs adequately within its class for casual use.

Genre-specific scoring further highlights the G6’s dominance across landscape, portrait, wildlife, and sports photography, while the FE-47 remains a simple snapshot camera.

Final Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Olympus FE-47?

• Budget-conscious users or casual photographers seeking ultra-portable, simple operation.
• Travelers prioritizing compactness over image sophistication.
• Users uninterested in manual controls or high-performance specifications.

Who Should Opt for the Panasonic Lumix G6?

• Enthusiasts and semi-professionals requiring versatile imaging tools.
• Photographers wanting manual exposure controls, RAW capture, and interchangeable optics.
• Videographers needing Full HD quality and audio inputs.
• Users invested in wireless transfer and modern connectivity.
• Those seeking a reliable system for diverse genres, from portraits to wildlife.

Closing Thoughts

The Olympus FE-47 and Panasonic Lumix G6 embody contrasting approaches reflecting their eras and target markets. The FE-47 offers simplicity and portability within a compact package but falls short in image quality, autofocus, and flexibility. The G6, though bulkier and costlier, provides a far more capable and future-proof platform with significant advantages across technical parameters and photographic disciplines.

This comparison underscores the value of sensor size, lens versatility, and control ergonomics in meeting the complex demands of today’s photographers. Evaluating a camera’s specification table alone is insufficient - real-world testing and application alignment are paramount. For those prioritizing quality and creative control, the Panasonic G6 is decidedly the superior choice. Only in minimal-function snapshot use does the FE-47 retain relevance.

Prospective buyers should consider their specific use cases carefully, bearing in mind the long-term benefits of investing in a flexible, capable system versus immediate convenience.