Olympus 5010 vs Panasonic GH5S: A Deep Dive into Two World-Aside Cameras

Selecting a camera isn’t just about specs on paper; it’s about what it can do for your photography and video projects. Today, I'll take you through a detailed, hands-on comparison between two vastly different cameras: the Olympus Stylus 5010 (also known as the mju 5010) and the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S. One is a compact point-and-shoot from 2010, designed for simplicity and portability. The other is a professional-grade mirrorless camera tailored for multimedia creators with serious demands.

While these cameras aren’t head-to-head rivals - with a price gap north of $2300 and almost a decade between their launch dates - the comparison highlights how camera technology evolved. It also helps you understand which tool suits which photography discipline and budget. I'll be integrating practical testing experiences and technical analysis alongside visual aids to make your decision as informed as possible.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Design Philosophy

One of the most immediate differences is physical - and telling of their target users.

Olympus 5010: This ultracompact camera weighs just 126 grams and measures 95x56x20 mm. Honestly, it fits snugly in any pocket or small bag - perfect for casual outings or quick snaps when you want to travel light. Its minimalistic design means it’s virtually invisible as a photography tool, blending into street scenes or family gatherings without fuss.

Panasonic GH5S: At 660 grams with dimensions of 139x98x87 mm, this is a serious chunk of gear. Its SLR-style mirrorless body screams professional use: robust grip, numerous physical controls, and a rugged build with weather-sealing (although not waterproof). It’s undeniably less pocketable but designed for marathon shoots and comfortable handling under pressure.

Looking at the control layouts from above...

The GH5S features a rich array of dials and buttons giving direct access to aperture, shutter, ISO, and exposure compensation - tools that pros love for swift adjustments. The Olympus 5010 forgoes physical controls for simplicity, relying on automatic modes and menus, which makes it beginner-friendly but limits creative control.

Sensor and Image Quality: From Entry-Level to Professional Grade

The image sensor underpins the performance of any camera, dictating how much detail and dynamic range it can capture.

• Olympus 5010 uses a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08x4.56 mm (~27.72 mm²) and 14 megapixels. CCD sensors were common around 2010 but now generally regarded as less capable in low light and dynamic range compared to modern CMOS.

• Panasonic GH5S houses a Four Thirds CMOS sensor sized 17.3x13 mm (~224.9 mm²) but with 10 megapixels, prioritizing pixel size over resolution. Notably, it omits an anti-aliasing filter to maximize sharpness - ideal for professionals who need finely rendered detail.

What this means practically:

Despite the Olympus having more pixels, its small sensor area means noise enters early at higher ISOs, with limited dynamic range to recover shadows or highlights. I found its max ISO of 3200 usable only when pixel peeping isn't the priority.

The GH5S excels at low light with a max native ISO of 51,200 (extendable to 204,800). In my tests, it maintained cleaner images with more color fidelity and detail, making it a clear winner in challenging lighting. The sensor size difference also delivers richer tonal gradations and better background separation when paired with fast lenses.

Display and Viewfinders: Monitoring Your Shot

Both screens and viewfinders influence how you frame and review images, impacting usability in the field.

The Olympus 5010 sports a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with a modest 230k-dot resolution - serviceable for framing but not ideal for critical review or touch interaction.

The Panasonic GH5S offers a 3.2-inch fully articulated touchscreen with a crisp 1.62 million-dot resolution. Its flexibility is invaluable for filming at awkward angles or for vlog-style self-recording.

Looking through the viewfinder:

• The Olympus lacks any viewfinder, relying entirely on its LCD.
• The GH5S has a high-res electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 3,680k dots, 100% coverage, and 0.76x magnification. This creates an immersive shooting experience, especially in bright environments where LCD visibility drops.

This extensive display functionality on the GH5S enhances both stills and video shooting comfort.

Autofocus and Performance: Snapping the Moment

Speed and accuracy of autofocus (AF) are decisive for genres like wildlife, sports, or street photography.

• Olympus 5010 uses contrast-detection AF with multi-area and tracking capabilities but no face or eye detection. Its continuous shooting maxes out at 1 FPS, prohibiting action bursts.

• Panasonic GH5S packs 225 AF points with excellent face/eye detection and selective AF modes. Though it lacks phase-detection AF, its contrast-based system is fast and reliable in practical use. The 12 FPS burst lets you capture rapid sequences effortlessly.

In real-world testing, the GH5S's autofocus lock and tracking are significantly more confident, particularly in low light or with moving subjects. The Olympus occasionally hunts, leading to missed shots in dynamic conditions.

Build Quality and Durability: Ready for the Elements?

The Olympus 5010 is a lightweight ultracompact, with no weather-sealing or rugged features. It’s vulnerable to dust, moisture, and shock - fine for fair-weather casual use but prone to damage if pushed.

The Panasonic GH5S, by contrast, features a magnesium alloy body with environmental sealing against dust and moisture. While not waterproof, it withstands strenuous professional field use, including rain and dusty setups - ideal for landscape, wildlife, and reportage photographers.

Lens Options and Ecosystem: What You Can Mount Matters

Lens availability impacts your creative potential and system longevity.

• Olympus 5010 has a fixed 26–130 mm (equiv.) zoom lens with F2.8-6.5 aperture range. While decent for snapshots and general use, the fixed lens limits flexibility - no interchangeable options or upgrades.

• Panasonic GH5S uses the Micro Four Thirds mount. I tested with several lenses in this vast ecosystem - over 100 native lenses right now from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, and others. This includes fast primes, telephotos, macros, and specialized optics for video.

The GH5S’s interchangeable lens design means you can tailor your gear to any shooting style - from ultra-wide landscapes to super-telephoto wildlife or professional cinema optics.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered on the Go

Battery endurance and storage contribute to how worry-free your shooting sessions can be.

• Olympus 5010’s battery details are limited, but it uses the Olympus Li-50B rechargeable battery and supports a single SD/SDHC card. Compactness sacrifices endurance - quick depletion can be a concern for all-day shooting.

• The GH5S uses the larger Battery Pack DMW-BLF19, rated for about 440 shots per charge. Dual SD slots with UHS-II card compatibility enable extended recording times, critical for video creators or event photographers.

During my tests, the Panasonic was considerably more reliable for marathon shooting days, offering better power management and flexibility.

Special Features and Connectivity: Modern Conveniences

• Olympus 5010 offers basic image stabilization via sensor-shift and a built-in flash with limited modes. No wireless features, Bluetooth, or GPS.

• Panasonic GH5S includes focus bracketing, focus stacking, extensive white balance bracketing, and customizable buttons. It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote control and image transfer - a boon for professional workflows.

For video, GH5S is also equipped with microphone and headphone jacks, HDMI output, and supports 4K recording up to 60p, unlike Olympus, which maxes at 720p HD in Motion JPEG format - a testament to the technological gap.

Real-World Photography Across Disciplines

Let’s now explore how these cameras perform across various genres using comparative sample images.

Olympus 5010 front Olympus 5010 screen back Panasonic GH5S front Panasonic GH5S screen back

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh

The Olympus 5010’s smaller sensor and fixed lens produce adequate portraits for casual use but struggle with background blur and skin tone accuracy - often a bit flat due to limited dynamic range and lens speed.

The GH5S with a fast prime lens delivers beautifully smooth bokeh and excellent skin tone rendering, with precise eye detection autofocus ensuring tack-sharp focus where it counts.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Detail

Here, sensor size rules. The Olympus’s small sensor and lower resolution create noisier images with less shadow detail. The GH5S dazzles with high-resolution files that preserve subtle tonal gradations and better handle bright skies versus shadowed foregrounds.

Its weather sealing also means you can confidently shoot in harsher conditions like early morning fog or rain.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Speed

Olympus’s slow AF and 1 FPS continuous mode limit capturing fleeting moments. Panasonics jumps ahead with 12 FPS, advanced AF tracking, and a wide lens selection - making it a practical choice for moving subjects.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

The Olympus is unbeatable in discreteness and portability - easy to carry and unobtrusive. The GH5S’s larger size and conspicuous presence can be a drawback for candid street approaches. If stealth is your priority, the 5010 offers simplicity.

Macros: Magnification and Stabilization

While Olympus macro range begins at 7 cm, limited brightness and sensor size limit fine detail capture. GH5S supported by macro lenses, focus stacking, and stable handling options provides superior results.

Night and Astro Photography: Noise and Exposure

GH5S’s high ISO capabilities and long exposure support allow star trails or low-light landscapes that the Olympus 5010’s older hardware simply can’t manage without excessive noise.

Video: Professional Recording and Stabilization

The 5010 records capped at 720p at 30 fps, in Motion JPEG - basic quality, and limited codec options. No microphone input or stabilization beyond sensor-shift stills IBIS.

The GH5S shines with 4K DCI video at 60p, H.264/H.265 encoding, professional audio inputs/output, and advanced video tools like V-LogL support. For hybrid shooters or videographers, it is a game changer.

Travel Photography: Versatile Travel Companion?

If packing ultra-light is your top priority, Olympus 5010 offers ease but compromises image quality and creative control. GH5S, though bulkier, covers every photographic scenario with high durability and flexibility.

Professional Use: Workflow and Reliability

The Olympus lacks RAW support - hindering post-production flexibility. The GH5S includes extensive RAW options, tethering support, and dual card slots necessary for professionals’ needs.

Summarizing Performance Ratings and Scores

Here’s a snapshot from our comprehensive testing and scoring to encapsulate the overall and genre-specific performance.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Olympus Stylus 5010

Pros:

• Pocketable and ultra-lightweight
• Simple to use for beginners or casual shooters
• Sensor-shift image stabilization helps for handheld shots
• Affordable price point (~$150)

Cons:

• Small sensor limits image quality and low-light ability
• Fixed lens limits creative flexibility
• No RAW or manual controls
• Basic video capabilities
• No wireless connectivity

Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Pros:

• Large Four Thirds sensor optimized for low-light and video
• High ISO performance and dynamic range
• Interchangeable lens ecosystem with wide options
• 4K/60p video with professional audio I/O
• Robust build with weather sealing
• Fast and accurate autofocus with tracking
• Dual card slots and powerful battery life
• Touchscreen articulating display and high-res EVF
• Comprehensive manual controls and customization

Cons:

• Pricey (~$2500 body only)
• No in-body image stabilization (relies on stabilized lenses)
• Larger size and weight impact portability

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Olympus 5010 if:

• You want a no-fuss, pocketable camera for casual snapshots or beginner photography.
• Budget is tight, and image quality expectations are modest.
• You value simplicity over manual control or professional features.

Choose the Panasonic GH5S if:

• You’re a serious enthusiast or professional needing stellar photo and video quality.
• Your work involves low light, fast action, or video production.
• You require maximum control, interchangeable lenses, and rugged build.
• You value connectivity, workflow flexibility, and future-proofing your gear.

Final Thoughts: Matching Tools to Your Vision

The Olympus 5010 and Panasonic GH5S fall on polar ends of the camera spectrum - both valid but for very different users. As someone who has personally tested and used hundreds of cameras across genres, I emphasize matching your purchase to your needs.

If you want a lightweight travel companion or first-time photography experience, Olympus offers ease and convenience at a tiny price. But if you’re investing in a camera that must perform creatively and technically in demanding environments - in anything from landscapes to pro video - the GH5S is a powerful machine designed around your ambitions.

When choosing your next camera, consider this comparison a compass - not just what each camera can do, but how it fits your photography passion, workflow, and budget. Buy the right tool for your artistic vision, and it will serve you well for years to come.

If you want more deep dives into cameras or lens recommendations, keep an eye on our next reviews where I’ll share hands-on insights from the latest gear hitting the market.

Happy shooting!