Olympus 5010 vs Panasonic FH27: In-Depth Comparison of Two Compact Contenders

Choosing the right compact camera can be a complex journey, especially when options share similar categories but diverge in features and performance. Today, we put under the microscope two ultraportable models from Olympus and Panasonic: the Olympus Stylus 5010 (also known as mju 5010) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27. Both released in the early 2010s and aimed at casual to enthusiast shooters, these cameras offer distinct approaches to the compact camera format.

As seasoned testers with over 15 years of evaluating digital cameras, we've carefully analyzed their technical specs, real-world performance in various photography styles, user interfaces, and overall value proposition. If you are deciding between these two models or simply want a deeper understanding of how compact designs stack up in terms of image quality, usability, and versatility, read on. We cover everything from portrait skin tone rendering to sports burst shooting, giving you an expert view to inform your choice.

First Impressions: Build, Size, and Handling

Before diving into pixels and autofocus, handling is a fundamental factor in camera choice. Both cameras sport compact bodies meant for grab-and-go shooting and travel ease, but their designs cater to slightly different priorities.

• Olympus 5010:

  • Ultra-slim ultracompact with dimensions of 95 x 56 x 20 mm
  • Weighs just 126 grams with battery and card, making it one of the lightest
  • Fixed 2.7-inch screen (230k dots), no touchscreen functionality
  • No electronic viewfinder offering - reliant on the LCD for composition
  • Minimal physical controls, favoring simplicity and pocketability

• Panasonic FH27:

  • Compact but chunkier at 99 x 57 x 28 mm
  • Slightly heavier at 152 grams
  • Larger 3-inch touchscreen LCD with the same 230k dot resolution
  • No viewfinder but the touchscreen enables more direct interaction
  • Slightly longer lens barrel due to extended zoom range

These size and ergonomics differences can influence your shooting comfort and how discreet your camera feels, particularly in street or travel photography.

Examining the top control layouts reveals Olympus’s minimalist ethos with fewer physical dials and buttons, ideal for beginners or users who prefer streamlined controls. Panasonic offers a bit more engagement with a touchscreen interface but maintains limited manual override options in both models. Neither supports aperture or shutter priority shooting – they rely fully on automatic exposure, which suits casual users but limits creative control for experienced photographers.

Sensors and Image Quality: Understanding Real-World Imaging Differences

Both cameras feature a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, a common size in compact cameras, but the Panasonic edges ahead slightly with a 16-megapixel count against Olympus’s 14 megapixels. Resolution difference translates to a maximum image size of 4608 x 3456 pixels on Panasonic versus Olympus’s 4288 x 3216 pixels.

Specifications at a glance:

Having tested image quality in various controlled and real-life conditions, we found:

• Dynamic Range: Both cameras have limited dynamic range due to sensor size and CCD tech, with Panasonic boasting slightly better performance attributable to its updated Venus Engine VI processor. This allows it to preserve more shadow and highlight details in landscapes and high-contrast scenes.
• Color and Skin Tones: Olympus tends toward neutral, slightly cooler rendering, which works well for outdoor shots but sometimes results in flatter skin tones in portraits. Panasonic pushes warmer, richer color that enhances skin tones, beneficial for portraiture and casual snapshot styles.
• Noise and High ISO: Panasonic’s higher max ISO (6400) is mostly theoretical in quality since both cameras show visible graininess above ISO 400-800. Olympus’s max ISO 3200 results in cleaner images at midrange ISO settings due to less aggressive noise reduction. Low-light photography or night shooting with either requires careful technique.
• Sharpness and Detail: Panasonic’s higher resolution provides a fine detail edge, though with both cameras, the small sensor limits ultimate image definition. JPEG compression is more evident in Olympus, sometimes causing minor softness especially at longer focal lengths.

Lens Performance and Versatility

Lens capabilities significantly impact what you can achieve. Both cameras come with fixed zoom lenses but differ in focal range and aperture.

Olympus offers a slightly brighter lens at the wide end (f/2.8) which aids low-light and shallow depth of field shots close to 26mm equivalent. Panasonic makes up for this with a much longer zoom range reaching 224mm equivalent, enlarging its potential for wildlife, sports, and travel photography where reach is critical.

Image stabilization is present in both but employ different technologies:

• Olympus uses sensor-shift stabilization – a decent system that handles subtle shake effectively.
• Panasonic relies on optical stabilization within the lens assembly, which tends to be more effective at longer focal lengths and video recording.

What does this mean for you?

• For portraits and indoor shootings, Olympus’s larger aperture at the wide end gives more background blur potential.
• For wildlife or sports enthusiasts on a budget, Panasonic’s 8x zoom offers more framing flexibility.
• For macro work, Panasonic’s closer 5cm minimum focus distance helps capture finer detail compared to Olympus’s 7cm minimum.

Viewfinder and Screen: Composing Your Shots

Neither camera includes an electronic viewfinder (EVF), relying exclusively on their LCDs for composition.

The Panasonic FH27’s touchscreen is a big plus if you want quick focus area selection and easier menu navigation, especially for beginners or vloggers. Olympus 5010’s fixed, non-touch 2.7-inch screen is smaller and less intuitive but serves basic framing needs without much distraction.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed

A central concern for active shooters is autofocus (AF) performance and frame rates. Neither camera has manual focus rings or extensive AF modes, but their AF systems differ slightly:

While both cameras use slower contrast-detection AF typical of their era, Panasonic’s 11 focus points with face detection technology provide better subject tracking and composition assistance - very useful in street photography and casual portraiture.

Burst shooting is where Panasonic visibly outpaces Olympus with 4 fps compared to 1 fps - not a high number by today’s standards but valuable for capturing fleeting moments in family events or casual sports.

Video Performance Overview

Both cameras record at HD 720p resolution at 24 or 30 fps with Motion JPEG format. Neither supports microphone or headphone connectivity or 4K functionality.

• Olympus 5010: Limited to 30 fps max, no touch or manual video controls, but includes basic sensor-shift image stabilization helpful for handheld shooting.
• Panasonic FH27: Slightly slower frame rates but benefits from optical stabilization, helping smoother handheld videos in outdoor settings.

If you are primarily a still photographer with occasional video needs, both suffice for casual clips. However, advanced videographers may want to look elsewhere.

Specialized Photography Styles: How Do They Handle Diverse Genres?

We put both cameras through their paces across a broad spectrum of real-world photographic uses.

Portrait Photography

• Skin tone reproduction: Panasonic’s warmer color bias yields more appealing skin tones without post-processing.
• Bokeh and depth of field: Limited by sensor size, but Olympus’s faster f/2.8 aperture at wide angle offers marginally better subject isolation.
• Eye detection AF: Only Panasonic supports face detection which improves focusing accuracy on faces.

Landscape Photography

• Dynamic range: Panasonic pulls ahead, retaining more detail in highlights and shadows.
• Resolution: 16MP captures slightly finer textures.
• Weather sealing: Neither camera offers environmental protection, so care is needed in harsh conditions.

Wildlife and Sports

• Autofocus speed: Panasonic’s more advanced AF and burst rate give it a clear edge.
• Zoom reach: Panasonic’s 224 mm equivalent lens is more suited for distant subjects.
• Continuous AF: Neither camera supports continuous AF, limiting tracking ability for fast action.

Street Photography

• Portability: Olympus’s smaller size and lighter weight improve discretion.
• Low light: Olympus’s wider aperture helps in dim scenes.
• Silent shooting: Both cameras lack silent shutter options.

Macro Photography

• Panasonic’s closer minimum focusing distance enables more impressive macro shots.
• Olympus’s sensor-shift stabilization helps mitigate slight camera shake in close-ups.

Night and Astro Photography

• Both cameras' small sensors limit high ISO performance; Panasonic’s ISO 6400 can be used but with heavy noise.
• Manual exposure modes are absent; long shutter exposures require creative workarounds.

Travel Photography

• Panasonic’s zoom range provides versatility.
• Olympus’s lighter weight benefits long days exploring.
• Both lack weather sealing and rely on battery packs, so extras like spare batteries and protective cases are recommended.

Professional Use

• Neither supports RAW capture, limiting post-production flexibility.
• No advanced manual controls restrict full creative expression.
• Both deliver good JPEGs for casual professional workflows but are not suited to demanding commercial uses.

Olympus 5010 front Olympus 5010 screen back Panasonic FH27 screen back

Here we see side-by-side sample images from both cameras in similar conditions illustrating differences in color tone, sharpness, and zoom flexibility. Panasonic’s richer colors and extended reach stand out, while Olympus delivers punchy images with slightly faster wide aperture.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

Both cameras lack modern wireless connectivity like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, which restricts instant sharing or remote operation options common in today’s cameras.

Panasonic’s documented battery life offers a practical advantage for day trips. Olympus supports HDMI out, enabling easy image viewing on compatible screens.

The cumulative performance ratings from our extensive testing reflect Panasonic FH27’s greater versatility and user-friendly refinements, while Olympus 5010 scores highly on portability and simplicity.

This genre breakdown visually confirms Panasonic’s superiority in burst shooting, autofocus accuracy, and portrait skin tone handling, while Olympus is closer in landscape sharpness and low-light wide aperture capability.

Final Recommendations: Which Compact Camera Fits Your Needs?

Choose the Olympus 5010 if you:

• Prioritize portability and ultra-compact size for pocketable travel or street use.
• Value a slightly faster wide aperture for more natural background separation.
• Shoot mostly still images with moderate zoom requirements.
• Appreciate straightforward, no-frills operation over advanced AF customization.
• Are budget-conscious: Olympus often comes at a lower street price.

Go with the Panasonic FH27 if you:

• Need longer zoom reach for wildlife, sports, or documentary-style photography.
• Want improved autofocus with face detection for portraits and action.
• Prefer a touchscreen interface for easier operation.
• Desire improved video stabilization and more flexible video shooting.
• Are willing to pay a premium for added features and battery endurance.

Wrapping Up: Your Compact Camera Partner Awaits

Both Olympus 5010 and Panasonic FH27 serve well as easy-to-use compact cameras delivering respectable image quality and sensible features. Your choice hinges mainly on whether you value pure portability and simplicity (Olympus) or extended versatility and technology (Panasonic). Neither is a professional-level camera but both provide enjoyable experiences for casual photography and everyday snapshots.

As always, we recommend getting hands-on time with cameras whenever possible. Try handling each model, review sample images, and consider the lenses and features that suit your creative journey. Also, don't overlook the importance of accessories like quality memory cards, spare batteries, and camera bags that contribute to the joy of photography.

We hope this detailed comparison gives you a solid foundation for your decision! Explore these cameras in local stores or through trusted resellers, and find the compact companion that unlocks your unique vision.

Happy shooting!