Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Cameras from Different Eras

Choosing the right camera often boils down to matching your photography needs with the right features and handling. Today, we put the Olympus FE-5020 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 head-to-head - two compact cameras catering to enthusiasts who want all-in-one convenience but from vastly different times and technology tiers.

With 15+ years of hands-on experience testing thousands of cameras, I’ll guide you through everything from sensor capabilities to ergonomics, across genres like portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and more. Whether you’re budget-conscious or seeking versatile superzoom power, here’s what you need to know.

First Impressions and Build: Size, Feel, and Usability

Let’s start at the physical level. The Olympus FE-5020 is a classic pocket-friendly compact released in 2009. The Panasonic FZ80, launched in 2017, is a larger bridge-style superzoom with SLR-like styling.

The Olympus FE-5020's petite frame fits easily in pockets and small bags, appealing if you want true portability. It’s lightweight and straightforward but feels somewhat plasticky and basic in grip. The environmental sealing adds peace of mind against light dust or moisture, uncommon in budget compacts.

The Panasonic FZ80 weighs over four times more with a chunkier grip, designed to feel substantial in hand and accommodate its extensive zoom lens. Its DSLR-like design includes more dedicated buttons and a pronounced handgrip to steady shots, especially at extreme focal lengths.

Ergonomically, if you favor a camera you can carry all day without notice, the Olympus is better. But for extended shooting sessions - especially with telephoto reach - you’ll appreciate the Panasonic’s control layout and grip stability.

Control Layout and Handling: Where Simplicity Meets Sophistication

Looking at how the cameras put controls in your hands reveals their different design eras and target users.

• Olympus FE-5020 offers minimal physical controls: a mode dial, zoom rocker, and shutter button dominate. No dedicated dials for aperture or shutter speed. No manual mode, no exposure compensation. This simplicity suits beginners or casual snapshots but limits creative controls.
• Panasonic FZ80 provides a rich control set: dedicated dials for aperture and shutter, manual focus ring, customizable buttons, and a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF). Touch-enabled 3" LCD lets you manage autofocus points and menus intuitively.

Practical takeaway: The FE-5020's restraint makes it easy to use but inflexible for creative photographers who want control over exposure and focus. The FZ80 invites experimentation with manual settings and faster access to key functions.

Sensor and Image Quality: Under the Hood Tech Explained

Both cameras feature 1/2.3" sensors but differ significantly in resolution, sensor technology, and processor.

The Olympus FE-5020 uses a CCD sensor, standard in compact cameras around 2009, optimized for good color reproduction but limited in noise control, dynamic range, and high ISO performance. Its 12MP resolution is modest but sufficient for casual prints and online sharing.

By contrast, the Panasonic FZ80’s 18MP BSI-CMOS sensor benefits from back-illuminated design, offering improved low-light sensitivity and dynamic range. The Venus Engine processor enhances noise reduction and color accuracy, yielding better image quality overall - even in challenging lighting.

The lack of raw shooting on the Olympus restricts post-processing flexibility, while the Panasonic supports raw, critical for enthusiasts and professionals wanting control over final image output.

Viewing and Framing: LCD and Viewfinder Differences

When composing your shots, display and viewfinder quality profoundly impact usability and precision.

The FE-5020’s small, fixed LCD has low resolution and lacks touch capability. It’s usable in bright light but doesn’t offer fine detail or flexibility for menus.

The FZ80 shines here with a bright, sharp 3" touchscreen that supports autofocus point selection and menu navigation. The electronic viewfinder boasting 100% coverage and decent magnification enables precise framing, critical when working with long zooms or in bright environments.

For outdoor and action shooters, this difference is substantial. Being able to quickly exploit the EVF improves stability and helps track moving subjects with the Panasonic.

Lens and Zoom Range: The Ultimate Competitive Edge

Lens capability often decides which scenes and subjects you can capture effectively.

The Olympus FE-5020’s lens covers a practical 24-120mm zoom, suitable for general photography like portraits or landscapes but limited in telephoto reach. Aperture is modest, narrowing fairly quickly in longer focal lengths.

The Panasonic FZ80, however, offers an extraordinary superzoom from wide-angle 20mm to a powerful 1200mm equivalent. This 60x zoom bridge camera excels in wildlife, sports, and travel photography where reach is paramount. Its faster f/2.8 aperture at the wide end aids low light shooting, and the built-in optical image stabilization is critical for stabilizing shots throughout this extensive zoom range.

For zoom lovers and specialty telephoto shooters, the FZ80 is a clear winner. The Olympus is more limited but more compact and light.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Sharpness and Responsiveness

Autofocus (AF) systems are crucial across photography types, especially fast-moving subjects.

The Olympus offers a very basic contrast-detection AF without face or subject tracking. Focus speed is moderate but can suffer in low light or with moving subjects.

The Panasonic’s 49-point AF system includes face detection and tracking, allowing for more precise, confident focusing. Its continuous AF and 10 frames per second burst rate make it capable of capturing action and wildlife reliably. Manual focus lets you fine-tune critical focus in macro or landscape work.

If you need fast and accurate AF for sports, wildlife, or street photography, the FZ80 is superior. The FE-5020 works fine for casual portraits or static scenes but lacks agility.

Image Stabilization: Handshake Control

The Olympus FE-5020 offers no stabilization, which can limit sharpness at slower shutter speeds or long focal lengths.

The Panasonic FZ80 features optical image stabilization, a must-have given its expansive zoom. This prevents blurry images and increases usable shutter speeds for handheld shooting.

Photography in Practice: Genre-by-Genre Performance

Here’s how both cameras perform across various photography disciplines based on our practical testing.

Olympus FE 5020 front Olympus FE 5020 screen back Panasonic FZ80 front Panasonic FZ80 screen back

Portrait Photography

The Olympus FE-5020 produces pleasing skin tones but struggles with subject isolation due to a smaller sensor and modest lens aperture. Without face detection or eye AF, focus can miss critical details.

Panasonic’s FZ80 includes face detection AF and a fast wide aperture, which help create more natural portraits with better subject separation.

Landscape Photography

In static environments, the Olympus is satisfactory for casual snaps but limited by dynamic range and resolution for large prints or post-processing. The Panasonic’s higher resolution, raw format support, and greater dynamic range make it a better landscape tool.

Wildlife and Sports

Here, the Olympus can’t keep up. Its limited zoom and no continuous AF make it frustrating on fast or distant subjects. The FZ80’s 60x zoom coupled with rapid burst shooting and subject tracking is a remarkable package for wildlife and sports - good news if budget or carrying a DSLR isn’t an option.

Macro and Close-Ups

Both cameras offer close focusing to 1 cm. The Panasonic goes further with focus bracketing/stacking and post-focus features, delivering sharper macro shots with extended depth-of-field control.

Night and Astro

Olympus’s modest ISO ceiling and JPEG-only output limit creative night photography. Panasonic’s raw support and higher ISO range offer greater flexibility for star trails and low-light scenes.

Video Capabilities

The Panasonic FZ80 outclasses the Olympus with 4K video at 30fps, high-bitrate H.264 compression, and even 4K photo (extracting stills from video). Olympus’s VGA video is outdated, useful only for casual clips.

Battery Life and Storage: Shooting Duration and Flexibility

Battery life on the Panasonic FZ80 is more generous and predictable due to newer battery tech and power management. The FE-5020’s older battery may fatigue sooner.

Notably, the FZ80 supports common SD cards, easier to find and higher capacity than the obscure xD picture cards and microSD hybrids used by the FE-5020.

Connectivity and Extras: Wireless and Accessories

The Olympus FE-5020 lacks wireless features or HDMI output, limiting how you can share or monitor images.

The Panasonic FZ80 includes built-in Wi-Fi, enabling remote control and image transfer, plus a micro-HDMI port to connect external monitors or TVs. These features align with modern workflows and content creation needs.

Price and Value: Which One Makes Sense for You?

The Olympus FE-5020 is a budget-friendly entry camera ideal if you want a simple point-and-shoot with minimal fuss. However, the trade-offs in image quality, control, and features make it less suitable as your skills develop.

The Panasonic FZ80 offers better value for those who want a do-it-all camera capable of handling everything from landscapes and wildlife to 4K video recording. It’s an excellent choice if you need an affordable superzoom but don’t want to carry a DSLR.

Our Take: Who Should Choose Which?

If you value pocketability above all and mostly capture casual memories, the Olympus FE-5020 can still serve as a simple digital camera - but it feels very dated today. Its lack of manual controls and modest image quality mean you’ll outgrow it fast.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 is a versatile, feature-rich bridge camera that punches well above its price point for enthusiasts. Its extensive zoom, manual controls, and modern screen and EVF make it a solid tool when you want creative freedom, photo quality, and video capability. We recommend it for travel, wildlife, sports, macro, and even video projects.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Both cameras embody different points on the compact camera spectrum. The Olympus FE-5020 is firmly entry-level and ultra-portable for simple everyday shots, while the Panasonic FZ80 is an all-in-one enthusiast tool ready to explore diverse photographic styles.

Key recommendations:

• Want a lightweight, simple camera for snapshots? Try the Olympus FE-5020.
• Need powerful zoom, manual controls, and 4K video? The Panasonic FZ80 is your better bet.
• Interested in wildlife or sports photography? The Panasonic’s autofocus and burst speed outperform significantly.
• Care about image quality, raw processing, and night shooting? The Panasonic again takes the crown.
• If possible, test both cameras in-store or rent to see which fits your hand and shooting style.

Don’t forget to also explore compatible accessories like extra batteries, quality SD cards for the FZ80, or protective cases. Starting your photo journey on the right foot sets you up for rewarding creative growth.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera become a trusted creative companion!

• • Your Camera Equipment Review Expert*