Olympus 5010 vs Panasonic FZ80

Here is a in depth overview of the Olympus 5010 versus Panasonic FZ80, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the 5010 (14MP) and FZ80 (18MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The 5010 was released 8 years before the FZ80 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 5010 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a quick summation of how the 5010 grades against the FZ80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus 5010 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80. The complete galleries are available at Olympus 5010 Gallery and Panasonic FZ80 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus 5010 provides exterior dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ80 has specifications of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") with a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Olympus 5010 versus Panasonic FZ80 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the 5010 against the FZ80.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 5010 and FZ80 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Often, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing simply by viewing specs. The visual here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 5010 and FZ80.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Panasonic FZ80 to render extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The older 5010 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.