Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic ZS8

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus FE-5010 and Panasonic ZS8, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is relatively close and they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FE-5010 was introduced 3 years earlier than the ZS8 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the FE-5010 grades versus the ZS8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus FE-5010 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. The whole galleries are available at Olympus FE-5010 Gallery & Panasonic ZS8 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus FE-5010 features physical measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus FE-5010 and Panasonic ZS8 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the FE-5010 and the ZS8.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-5010 and ZS8 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by viewing technical specs. The visual here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-5010 and ZS8.

As you have seen, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic ZS8 to result in extra detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older FE-5010 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.