Olympus FE-5020 vs Panasonic LZ20

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus FE-5020 versus Panasonic LZ20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the FE-5020 (12MP) and LZ20 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FE-5020 was manufactured 4 years prior to the LZ20 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FE-5020 grades vs the LZ20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus FE-5020 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus FE-5020 Gallery and Panasonic LZ20 Gallery.

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus FE-5020 offers physical dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ20 has proportions of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus FE-5020 versus Panasonic LZ20 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the FE-5020 vs the LZ20.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-5020 and LZ20 is 95 and 71 respectively.

More often than not, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by going through a spec sheet. The visual here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-5020 and LZ20.

As you can see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic LZ20 to produce greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older FE-5020 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.