Olympus 5010 vs. Panasonic FZ200: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Zoomers

When stepping up from basic point-and-shoot cameras, compact and bridge cameras often serve as flexible tools for photography enthusiasts leaning toward versatility without the bulk or investment of interchangeable lens systems. Today, I put two quite different but somewhat overlapping bridge/ultra-compact zoomers head-to-head: the Olympus 5010 (also known as the mju 5010), launched in early 2010, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 from mid-2012.

At first glance, they cover similar ground - both sporting 1/2.3” sensors, fixed zoom lenses, and aimed at users craving zoom reach and simplicity. Yet, they’re separated not just by release year but by a considerable gap in ambition, size, and sophistication. Here, I’ll share tested insights focussing on real-world handling, imaging performance, features, and who each camera fits best. Whether you’re a street snapper, wildlife lover, or casual vacation shooter, this comparison will help you see which way your dollars and desires might lean.

Size, Ergonomics, and Handling: Ultra-Compact Convenience vs. SLR-Style Control

The Olympus Stylus 5010 is the quintessential ultra-compact. Its petite frame (95x56x20 mm) and feather-light weight (a mere 126 g) mean it practically disappears in your pocket. The flush-mounted lens and minimalist controls are a blessing for travelers wanting a grab-and-go camera that doesn’t scream “photographer.” Yet, this small size comes with limited direct control - it’s mainly point, shoot, and hope for the best.

On the flip side, the Panasonic FZ200 is a hefty, SLR-inspired bridge camera (125x87x110 mm, 588 g), demanding both space and a firmer grip. Its physical bulk lends it a solid, purpose-built feel. The larger body accommodates more tactile controls, a dedicated mode dial, and a distinguished electronic viewfinder (EVF) perfect for precise composition under variable lighting. The 3-inch fully articulating LCD also flips and swivels to help reach awkward angles - a boon rarely found in compacts.

Handling-wise, my hands favored the FZ200’s pronounced grip and button layout, especially for extended shooting sessions, but the 5010’s pocketability makes it ideal for spontaneous street photography or quick snapshots where size and lightness matter most.

Sensor Technology and Core Image Quality: CCD vs. CMOS in a 1/2.3” Battlefield

Both cameras use the popular 1/2.3” sensor format, common in compacts and bridge cameras. But there’s a sensor/significant tech difference: the Olympus 5010 employs a 14MP CCD sensor, while the Panasonic FZ200 sports a 12MP CMOS sensor.

CCD sensors generally provide good color rendition but tend to consume more power and lag in noise performance compared to modern CMOS counterparts. The FZ200’s CMOS sensor, paired with Panasonic’s Venus Engine VII FHD processor, handles noise better, especially at higher ISOs. In tests, the FZ200 maintained respectable clarity and detail up to ISO 1600 and useable images at 3200 ISO, whereas the 5010 struggled beyond 400 ISO, with noise becoming very apparent.

Resolution-wise, the Olympus packs more pixels (14MP vs. 12MP), but the difference is marginal and arguably cosmetic given the sensor size; pixel pitch on the 5010 is slightly smaller, which can affect low-light sensitivity.

Dynamic range is also better on the FZ200, thanks to its newer sensor and processing engine. This translates into richer shadow and highlight retention in challenging lighting scenarios - a crucial factor for landscape and event shooters.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: 5× vs. 24× - A World Apart

When zoom tells a story, Panasonic steals the show hands down. The Olympus 5010 features a 26–130 mm equivalent lens (5× zoom) with a variable maximum aperture of f/2.8–6.5. This lens covers moderate telephoto range but limits flexibility for wildlife or sports photographers seeking longer reach.

In comparison, the Panasonic FZ200 boasts a versatile 25–600 mm equivalent superzoom lens (24× optical zoom) with an unshifting bright f/2.8 aperture throughout its zoom range. This constant aperture is a standout feature, enabling consistent exposure settings and better low-light performance even at the telephoto end.

The sharpness of both lenses is respectable in daytime conditions, but Panasonic’s zoom versatility and brightness make it a jack-of-all-trades - from wide landscapes (25mm) to distant birds (600mm).

Macro-wise, the FZ200 shines with a close focusing distance of 1 cm versus the 5010’s 7 cm, delivering finer detail for flower and insect photography. The 5010’s optical stabilization system, sensor-shift based, contributes well in reducing camera shake at mid-zoom, but the FZ200’s dual optical stabilization paired with the bright lens offers superior steadiness across all focal lengths as I observed in handheld shooting.

Autofocus Systems: Precision, Speed, and Reliability

Affordable compact cameras often take a backseat to faster, more accurate autofocus (AF) mechanics. Here, differences are evident.

The Olympus 5010 relies on a basic contrast-detection AF system with face detection disabled. It offers single AF mode, with no continuous focus or eye detection to complicate things. For casual users, this works well enough indoors or for stable scenes but can be frustrating in dynamic or low-light environments.

Panasonic’s FZ200 has a more developed AF system: 23 focus points with contrast detection that supports continuous AF and face detection, improving tracking of subjects during bursts or panning sports action. During wildlife and sports trial runs, the FZ200 delivered quicker lock-on and maintained focus better than the 5010 - an unsurprising but important advantage for active shooters.

Display and Viewfinder: From Fixed LCD to Articulated and EVF

Olympus’s 5010 sticks to basics, featuring a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with just 230k dots resolution. The screen is adequate in good light but falters outdoors under direct sun or in bright conditions due to low brightness and lack of anti-reflective coatings. The absence of an electronic viewfinder means composing with the LCD is your only option.

Panasonic equips the FZ200 with a 3-inch fully articulating TFT LCD offering 460k dots, doubling detail and flexibility. The articulating screen is a boon for shooting at odd angles, including selfies - also supported by a “selfie-friendly” tilting mechanism. Moreover, the FZ200 includes a high-res electronic viewfinder (1312k dots, 100% coverage). This enables eye-level shooting, essential in bright environments and adds to the shooting experience for those used to SLRs.

These UI upgrades translate to faster framing, more precise composition, and better overall user satisfaction, especially in more demanding scenarios.

Burst and Shutter Performance: Speed Matters for Action

Continuous shooting speed can make a critical difference in capturing decisive moments. The Olympus 5010 offers a very modest 1 fps burst rate - good enough for casual snapshots but too slow to chase moving subjects like athletes or wildlife.

The Panasonic FZ200’s 12 fps burst is its trump card for capturing rapid sequences. Furthermore, it supports shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure modes, offering creative control - features missing from the 5010’s simplistic exposure setup.

Shutter speed range also differs: Olympus limits itself between 4 seconds and 1/2000 s, whereas Panasonic extends shutter speeds with longer capabilities (up to 1/4000 s) and much shorter minimum exposures (via electronic shutter options). This offers greater flexibility for bright outdoor shooting and long-exposure creativity.

Video Recording: HD Quality and Audio Support

The Olympus 5010 shoots video at modest resolutions: a maximum 1280×720 HD at 30 fps encoded in Motion JPEG (an older standard). There’s no external microphone port, limiting audio quality control, and video functionalities are minimal.

The Panasonic FZ200 ups the ante with full HD 1080p video at frame rates up to 60 fps, supporting MPEG-4 and AVCHD codecs for higher quality and reduced compression artifacts. Importantly, the FZ200 includes a microphone input, allowing better audio capture for vloggers or documentary shooters. While neither offer 4K, the Panasonic’s video capabilities remain competitive for hybrid shooters.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery specs highlight one of the FZ200’s strengths: approximately 540 shots per charge (CIPA rating), almost double what Olympus’s 5010 delivers (not officially rated, but expected to be considerably shorter due to CCD sensor and older tech).

Both cameras accept standard SD/SDHC cards, but Panasonic supports SDXC cards for larger capacities - a definite plus for video and high volume shooting.

Build Quality and Features: Weatherproofing and Durability

Neither camera is weather-sealed, dustproof, or shockproof. The Olympus 5010 leans into its ultra-compact design rather than ruggedness. The Panasonic FZ200’s robust build and textured grip, while not weathersealed, feel more solid and better suited to outdoor adventure shooting.

Real-World Imaging: Sample Shots and Color Rendition

Image comparison in various scenarios tells the story beyond specs. Olympus produces nice color tones, though often slightly softer images with less micro-contrast. The 5010’s higher megapixel count occasionally leads to softer photos due to sensor and lens limitations.

Panasonic images present punchier, more vibrant colors and sharper details - especially noticeable in landscape and macro shots. The constant f/2.8 lens also yields smoother bokeh and subject separation in portrait mode.

Low light performance is another divide: the 5010’s images get grainy and lose detail quickly beyond ISO 400, while the FZ200 remains surprisingly clean till ISO 1600, bolstered by optical image stabilization.

Olympus 5010 front Olympus 5010 screen back Panasonic FZ200 front Panasonic FZ200 screen back

Genre-Specific Assessment

It’s time to zero in on how these cameras suit particular photographic disciplines:

• Portrait Photography: Panasonic wins with face detection, brighter lens for subject separation, and manual exposure controls. Olympus feels too limited.

• Landscape Photography: The FZ200’s extended zoom, better dynamic range, and articulating screen give it an edge. Olympus competes primarily on portability.

• Wildlife Photography: Panasonic’s 24× zoom, faster burst, and improved AF are essential. Olympus’s 5× zoom and slow AF are insufficient.

• Sports Photography: FZ200’s 12 fps burst and AF tracking hold firm, the 5010 barely manages static subjects.

• Street Photography: Olympus’s small size excels for inconspicuous shooting; FZ200 bulk may draw attention. Low-light of FZ200 helps, but portability tips balance.

• Macro Photography: Panasonic’s 1cm close focus outperforms Olympus’s 7cm, plus sharper optics.

• Night/Astro Photography: FZ200’s higher ISO capabilities and longer shutter speeds help here; Olympus falls short.

• Video: Panasonic’s 1080p, mic port, and better codecs dominate.

• Travel Photography: Olympus is perfect for flights and minimal bags; Panasonic offers all-in-one versatility if size isn't a big problem.

• Professional Work: Neither replaces professional interchangeable lens cameras, but Panasonic’s RAW support, exposure flexibility, and build quality align better with semi-pro work.

Connectivity and User Interface

Neither offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS - unsurprising for their eras. USB and HDMI outputs are standard, but lack of wireless features might irk modern buyers seeking quick social sharing.

Olympus’s interface is simple but limited; Panasonic’s mode dial and customizable buttons, alongside the EVF and articulating screen, offer greater shooting control and speed.

Value and Price-to-Performance Ratio

At launch and typical used prices today (around $150 for the Olympus 5010 and $500 for the FZ200), the FZ200 commands a premium.

Is the jump worth it? Absolutely, if you require zoom power, creative control, and versatility. The 5010 appeals mainly to casual shooters or collectors wanting extreme portability and simplicity.

Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Olympus Stylus 5010 if:

• You prioritize ultra-compact size for everyday carry or street shooting.
• Your budget is tight and video or manual control are non-issues.
• You want a simple point-and-shoot with decent image quality in good light.
• You value lightness and pocketability over zoom reach or speed.

Choose the Panasonic Lumix FZ200 if:

• You want a versatile all-in-one zoom bridge camera for wildlife, sports, or travel.
• You require manual exposure modes, higher video specs, and RAW support.
• You appreciate ergonomics, handling with an EVF, and robust controls.
• You need better low-light performance, image stabilization, and faster AF.
• You're willing to carry a larger, heavier camera for better creative potential.

Final Thoughts

Comparing Olympus’s 2010 ultra-compact with Panasonic’s 2012 advanced bridge camera reveals a clear evolution in compact camera capabilities over just a couple of years. The 5010 remains a charming, easy-to-use companion but struggles beyond casual snapshots. The FZ200, meanwhile, punches well above its weight class, offering creative flexibility once reserved for DSLRs at a fraction of the weight and price.

For modern enthusiasts eyeing versatile zoom cameras, the FZ200 still holds relevance as a capable, feature-rich bridge camera that can tackle a broad range of photographic challenges - especially if you value control and image quality in a single unit. The Olympus 5010, while nostalgic and pocket-perfect, is best suited to minimalists who trade performance for convenience.

Hopefully, this detailed comparison helps you clarify which compact zoom camera aligns with your needs and budget!

Happy shooting!

• Your experienced reviewer and camera tester

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