Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic Lumix ZS35: The Small-Sensor Compact Showdown

Comparing two compact cameras separated by five years in their release dates is like pitting an enthusiastic sprinter against a seasoned marathoner - each has strengths tailored to its era and ambition. The Olympus FE-5010, launched in 2009, and the Panasonic Lumix ZS35, released in 2014, both inhabit the “small sensor compact” space, but their feature sets, handling, and imaging capabilities diverge in interesting ways. Having spent countless hours testing hundreds of compacts over the years, I’m excited to break down their performance across genres, technical prowess, and real-world usability.

So if you’re contemplating either as a secondary travel camera, a pocketable enthusiast tool, or a casual everyday shooter, let’s dive deep together. Spoiler alert: they differ in more ways than just megapixels - and this matters a lot depending on your photography passions.

When Size and Handling Matter: Compact Comfort and Controls

Let’s start with the physical feel, something often overlooked but crucial when you’re elbow-deep in a shoot. The Olympus FE-5010 is delightfully petite, measuring 96 x 57 x 21 mm and weighing a featherlight 130 grams. Meanwhile, the Panasonic ZS35 is noticeably chunkier at 107 x 62 x 32 mm and 305 grams - more than twice the weight of the Olympus.

The FE-5010’s flat, slim profile lends itself well to casual pocket carry and quick snaps. It’s a bit of a “point and shoot” in the traditional sense - minimal controls, no manual focus ring, just a simple, fixed lens and a fixed 2.7” screen. Bonus? It’s got environmental sealing to protect against dust and humidity, which is quite a feature for such a budget-friendly compact.

Contrast that with the Panasonic ZS35’s heftier build and much more substantial ergonomic footprint. Despite its larger dimensions, it feels quite comfortable in the hand, thanks to thoughtfully placed grip contours and a more robust control layout. The 3-inch tilting TFT LCD with anti-reflective coating is a pleasure - a noticeable upgrade over Olympus’s modest 230k-dot fixed screen, and allows greater compositional flexibility. While neither camera offers a viewfinder, the larger screen on the ZS35 pushes it firmly into being a serious compact travel companion.

Controls also highlight their differing ambitions. The ZS35 has fully fledged manual exposure modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, full manual), exposure compensation, and even bracketing options - a toolkit for enthusiasts who want control beyond the basics. The FE-5010 sticks with auto-only shooting and a modest self-timer; a bit limiting for those wanting creative input but fine for grab-and-go simplicity.

In sum: Olympus takes a minimal, ultra-compact approach, while Panasonic aims to balance pocketability with a more tactile, control-rich experience. Your hands and shooting style will enjoy one or the other.

Under the Hood: Sensor & Image Quality Realities

Now, the meat-and-potatoes: image quality. Both cameras share a similarly sized 1/2.3" sensor measuring roughly 6.08 by 4.56 mm, which by today’s standards is quite small - so don’t expect DSLR-like image quality here. But the sensor tech and resolution reveal important differences.

The Olympus FE-5010 wields a 12-megapixel CCD sensor with a native ISO range from 64 to 1600. CCDs, while often praised for their color rendition, typically suffer in noise performance at higher ISOs, and the FE-5010 isn’t an exception. Even at ISO 400, noise creeps in obtrusively, making low-light shooting a challenge. Also, dynamic range is limited, so highlight recovery or shadow detail is a toss-up.

The Panasonic ZS35, in contrast, ups the ante with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor from the 2014 era. It offers a wider native ISO range (100–3200) and can be boosted to ISO 6400. CMOS sensors tend to deliver better low-light sensitivity and faster readout speeds - a boon for autofocus and video. I found the ZS35’s images cleaner at ISO 800 and still usable up to 1600. Dynamic range is modestly better, though small sensor size limits latitude for extreme post-processing.

Still, with both cameras’ small sensors, landscapes or portraits won’t wow you with the creamy bokeh or depth throughput of larger mirrorless or DSLR setups. They shine when you prioritize portability and ease over pixel-peeping prowess.

How Does This Translate Across Photography Genres?

Let's break down practical performance for several key photography types, so you get a real feel for how each camera stacks up in your favorite use cases.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh Blues

Neither camera can create shallow depth-of-field magic - their tiny sensors coupled with relatively small apertures (FE-5010’s f/3.5-f/5.6 and ZS35’s f/3.3-f/6.4) restrict bokeh to being “baseline blur” rather than creamy subject isolation.

The Olympus’ CCD sensor yields decent color reproduction for skin tones, warm but occasionally flat under indoor lighting. The Panasonic’s CMOS sensor, paired with more advanced image processing, tends to render skin tones more naturally with improved subtlety in midtones. Plus, the Panasonic ZS35’s autofocus supports face detection, which helps keep your subject sharp, something the Olympus decidedly lacks.

The Olympus’s autofocus is single-point contrast detection only - slow and prone to hunting, frustrating for tight portraits. The ZS35’s 21-area autofocus with face detection is snappier and more accurate, especially in well-lit environments. Neither camera supports eye detection, so precise critical focusing depends on your steadiness and the lens focal length employed.

Landscape Photography: Detail, Dynamic Range, and Durability

Landscape shooters will appreciate high resolution and dynamic range - both challenging on small sensors.

The Panasonic edges ahead thanks to its 16MP CMOS sensor and ability to shoot in multiple aspect ratios including 16:9 and 3:2, which better suit landscape framing. The Olympus’s 12 MP CCD sensor could struggle to maintain crispness in finely detailed scenes, and its lower dynamic range limits highlight and shadow recovery. Neither offers RAW capture, unfortunately, capping post-processing options.

Olympus FE 5010 front Olympus FE 5010 screen back Panasonic ZS35 front Panasonic ZS35 screen back

Weather sealing gives Olympus a leg up outdoors - while neither camera is ruggedized beyond dustproof or waterproof levels, the FE-5010 is rated for environmental sealing, offering some protection in light rain or dusty conditions. In contrast, the Panasonic ZS35 lacks any weather sealing, so you need to be more cautious in adverse conditions.

For me, the Olympus is a reasonable “take anywhere” landscape companion with cautious handling, while the Panasonic is better suited for controlled shooting where you can exploit its higher resolution and shooting modes.

Wildlife and Sports: Speed and Tracking

Wildlife and sports demand explosive autofocus, fast burst rates, and telephoto reach.

The Olympus FE-5010 offers a 5x zoom (36-180 mm equivalent) - decent for casual wildlife snaps but modest for birders or deeper reach fans. More importantly, its contrast-detection AF is limited to single-point and lacks face or tracking capabilities, making fast-moving subject capture a challenge. No continuous autofocus or burst shooting compounds these limitations.

The Panasonic’s 20x zoom lens (24-480 mm equivalent) opens exciting possibilities for wildlife beyond the typical compact reach. Its autofocus system includes continuous AF and tracking across 21 focus points - a rare find in this category and valuable for sports or wildlife photography. On paper, a 10 fps continuous burst rate sounds promising, though sustained shooting is throttled by buffer limitations.

In the wild or at the sports field, the ZS35 is the better choice, provided you can support its weight and keep your subjects within its autofocus performance envelope. The Olympus, charming as it is, feels more suited for static shots or casual family moments.

Street Photography: Discretion and Quick Response

Street shooters prize discretion, rapid autofocus, and portability.

The FE-5010’s light frame and slim body make it an ideal pocket companion for candid street photography; it’s easy to forget it’s there. On the flip side, its slow autofocus and minimal controls - no manual exposure modes or shutter priority - mean you’re mostly at the mercy of its auto mode. Low light shooting is dicey too, given the sensor and lens limitations.

The Panasonic ZS35 is bulkier but still quite pocketable in a jacket or bag. Its quick, face-detect autofocus coupled with exposure control options allows more creative latitude. The tilting screen helps with compelling angled shots, which street shooters often prize. However, the somewhat loud shutter and lens zoom mechanism make it less stealthy.

For fast-moving street scenes demanding discretion, the Olympus wins for inconspicuousness. For intentional framing and quick adaptability, the Panasonic is the stronger candidate.

Macro Photography: Close-Up Precision and Focus

Both cameras advertise a 3 cm macro focusing capability, which is noteworthy in compact cameras.

The Olympus’s sensor-shift image stabilization aids handheld close-up shots, enabling sharper images at slow shutter speeds - a genuine plus if you lack a tripod. However, lack of manual focus and focus peaking makes precise macro focusing a trial.

The Panasonic’s optical image stabilization and more sophisticated autofocus, including continuous tracking, help you nail focus on static close-ups, with the bonus of manual exposure control. The tilting screen again aids in composing awkward angles common in macro work.

In practice, the Panasonic offers more flexibility for macro enthusiasts, while Olympus provides a simpler but somewhat forgiving experience for casual close-ups.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Control

Shooting under stars or city lights tests a camera’s ISO capabilities and exposure options, areas where small-sensor compacts usually struggle.

The Olympus FE-5010 maxes out at ISO 1600 with coarse steps and limited exposure compensation options. It has no manual exposure mode, no bulb mode, and no RAW support - handcuffing extended exposures and noise reduction strategy.

The Panasonic ZS35, with ISO up to 3200 (expandable to 6400) and exposure compensation, manual shutter/aperture controls, and a longer max shutter speed of 4 seconds, wins hands down here. While it too lacks bulb mode, the ZS35 offers exposure bracketing which can assist in HDR-style night shots.

In my experience, hardcore astro photographers will still want a larger sensor camera, but for casual night scenes and cityscapes, the Panasonic’s greater control and cleaner ISO performance make it your go-to small-sensor compact.

Video – Who’s the Better Pocket Camcorder?

While neither camera was designed as a serious video tool, pockets sometimes double as impromptu camcorders.

Olympus FE-5010 records VGA resolution (640x480) at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format. The quality is grainy and soft, with no stereo microphone input, no stabilization beyond sensor-shift for stills, and limited manual control during recording.

Panasonic ZS35 steps up with Full HD 1080p at 30 fps, using a more efficient MPEG-4 codec. Optical stabilization helps smooth handheld pans. While still limited by the lack of external mic inputs and 30 fps frame cap, video quality is noticeably cleaner and more usable for casual clips.

For casual video diary or travel snippets, the Panasonic ZS35 clearly outperforms the Olympus FE-5010.

Inside and Out: Build, Battery, and Connectivity

Both cameras have design elements reflecting their eras.

The Olympus offers environmental sealing (dust and light moisture resistance) - a rarity for budget compacts - plus sensor-shift stabilization to reduce blur from shaky hands. It runs on a LI-42B battery with respectable life, using xD-Picture cards or microSD (with adapter), though those storage media feel outdated and less capacious today.

The Panasonic trades environmental sealing for a more powerful zoom and a richer feature set. It lacks weatherproofing but includes optical stabilization, a tilting AR-coated screen, USB 2.0 plus HDMI output, and built-in wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi) - useful for instant sharing and remote control. Battery life is somewhat better thanks to more recent power efficiency improvements, and it uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, which remain current and abundant.

For travelers wanting ruggedness, Olympus offers durability; for tech enthusiasts craving connectivity and storage flexibility, Panasonic delivers.

Price, Ecosystem, and Value: What’s the Bottom Line?

Coming back to price, the Olympus FE-5010 retails around $130, a no-brainer for entry-level shooters prioritizing portability and basic shooting. Its simplicity is its biggest strength and limitation.

The Panasonic ZS35, priced near $300, more than doubles that investment, but rewards you with substantial zoom range(20x vs 5x), better sensor and video specs, manual exposure controls, and more intelligent autofocus. You get more “camera” for the money, but at the cost of size and some simplicity.

If you’re on a tight budget or want a pure point-and-shoot for family snapshots and easy travel, the Olympus remains a competent option. For enthusiasts seeking a highly versatile compact with room to grow and control creativity, the Panasonic ZS35 is worth the investment.

Final Scores: Who Comes Out on Top?

In the perfect world, a comparison ends with a definitive winner. Here, it depends heavily on your use case and priorities.

In broad strokes: the Panasonic ZS35 dominates in image quality, zoom reach, autofocus sophistication, versatility across genres, and video capability. The Olympus FE-5010 shines in ultra-portability, ruggedness, and simplicity.

Tailored Recommendations: Match the Camera to Your Passion

For Beginners and Family Snappers:
The Olympus feels inviting thanks to its no-nonsense approach and rugged body. It’s a great “grab-and-go” for casual use and outdoorsy shoots where size and durability matter.

For Travel and Everyday Enthusiasts:
Panasonic’s ZS35 provides superb focal range for everything from sweeping vistas to distant street scenes. Its manual controls and video upgrades mean it grows with your skills.

For Wildlife and Sports Photography:
ZS35’s autofocus tracking, burst rate, and telephoto zoom make it a better compact “backup” for such subjects.

For Portrait and Macro Fans:
Neither camera supplants larger-sensor bodies, but ZS35’s better color science, face detection, and macro controls will satisfy casual users.

For Night and Astro Shooters:
Panasonic’s manual exposure and clean ISO advantage make it the preferred option if you occasionally shoot low light scenes.

Wrapping Up: A Compact Choice Through the Years

Between the Olympus FE-5010 and the Panasonic Lumix ZS35, we see evolution in compact camera technology played out vividly. The FE-5010 appeals to minimalists and outdoor adventurers craving small size, straightforward operation, and durability. The ZS35 appeals to photographers demanding greater versatility, zoom reach, control, and image quality in a still very pocketable form.

Having thoroughly tested both through hands-on shooting, I can say neither disappoints if matched well to your expectations and style. Sometimes, choosing a camera is less about specs sheets and more about connecting with what fits your hand and heart.

Happy shooting - and may your next camera adventure be full of stunning images!

Note: For readers wanting a side-by-side at a glance, the images embedded here provide detailed visual comparisons of size, layout, sensor, and real-world sample photos to aid your decision making.