Olympus FE-5020 vs Samsung GX-1S

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus FE-5020 vs Samsung GX-1S, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Samsung. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the FE-5020 (12MP) and GX-1S (6MP) and the FE-5020 (1/2.3") and GX-1S (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The FE-5020 was manufactured 3 years after the GX-1S which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus FE-5020 being a Compact camera and the Samsung GX-1S being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FE-5020 scores against the GX-1S in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus FE-5020 and Samsung GX-1S. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus FE-5020 Gallery and Samsung GX-1S Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus FE-5020 features physical measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Samsung GX-1S has dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") with a weight of 605 grams (1.33 lbs).

Compare the Olympus FE-5020 vs Samsung GX-1S in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the FE-5020 versus the GX-1S.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FE-5020 and GX-1S is 95 and 68 respectively.

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by viewing a spec sheet. The picture underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the FE-5020 and GX-1S.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FE-5020 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus FE-5020 will result in greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer FE-5020 provides an advantage in sensor tech.