Olympus Stylus 5010 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing the right compact camera can feel overwhelming given the multitude of options available, each with its own strengths, quirks, and price point. Today, we’re diving deep into a detailed side-by-side comparison of two ultracompact and small-sensor compact cameras from 2009–2010: the Olympus Stylus 5010 (also known as mju 5010) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 (Lumix DMC-ZX1). Both pack respectable features in portable bodies but target slightly different user priorities.

Drawing from personal experience with thousands of cameras tested over 15 years - across fast-paced sports shoots to quiet night astrophotography - we unpack how these cameras perform practically and technically, helping you determine if either fits your unique photography ambitions.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

When shooting on the go or traveling light, size and handling become just as important as specs. Both cameras are designed for portability but differ subtly in how they fit in your hands and pockets.

The Olympus 5010 is delightfully slim and lightweight, making it ideal if you’re seeking an ultra-pocketable shooter you can slip into any jacket or bag without noticing. Its rounded edges feel comfortable but don’t offer much in grip security, especially with one hand.

The Panasonic ZR1 adds a little heft and thickness, which translates into a more confident feel in hand. The slightly larger lens barrel and body thickness provide extra grip, which photographers appreciate when zooming or tracking moving subjects.

Design and Control Layout

Both models feature fixed lens designs, eliminating the need for lens changes and simplifying operation.

Olympus sticks to a minimalist control approach with limited external buttons, which emphasizes ease of use for casual shooters but limits quick access to settings like ISO or exposure compensation.

Panasonic’s top panel includes more pronounced buttons and a small mode dial, offering better direct control. This appeals more to enthusiasts who want manual influence without diving deeply into menus.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Image quality boils down primarily to sensor performance and lens quality. Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor common in compacts at the time. Yet, resolution, ISO range, and image processing differ.

Both sensors offer typical compact camera characteristics:

• Similar physical sensor size, matching pixel densities around the industry norm.
• Olympus 5010’s higher resolution (14MP vs 12MP) affords slightly more print flexibility and cropping room without impact on file size or noise under good light.
• Panasonic ZR1 features a higher maximum ISO of 6400 compared to 3200 on the Olympus, suggesting better low-light performance potential - although both cameras’ noise handling at high ISO will be quite grainy given sensor size.

In real-world conditions, the difference between 12 and 14 megapixels is minimal for average-sized prints or screen use. However, Panasonic’s greater ISO sensitivity provides a slight edge in dim environments, which we'll explore in low light and night photography sections.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Your Visual Feedback Zone

While neither camera includes a viewfinder, both rely solely on their LCD screens for composition and review. This impacts usability, especially in bright outdoor conditions.

The fixed 2.7” displays with identical resolutions limit detail when assessing focus or subtle image issues in the field. Neither screen offers touchscreen capability, so menu navigation relies on buttons - standard in this class but less intuitive compared to modern touch LCDs. Both brands implement easily legible menus aligned with compact camera simplicity.

Given the fixed nature of the screens, framing low or high angles requires physical repositioning rather than tilting the display - a consideration if you favor creative perspectives.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility in Focal Range and Close Focus

Your creative reach is tied closely to the zoom range and close-up capabilities of the lens system.

Olympus’ wide-ish F2.8 aperture at the short end is a plus for portraits and indoor captures, where brighter lenses allow for better subject isolation and lower noise through faster shutter speeds. Panasonic’s lens offers a notably longer telephoto reach (200mm versus 130mm), which shines when photographing distant subjects like wildlife or candid street moments.

Panasonic’s macro focus distance dips down to 3 cm, effectively enabling super close-up detail shots with a more pronounced shallow depth of field, making it technically superior for macro enthusiasts.

Both cameras include image stabilization systems:

• Olympus uses sensor-shift stabilization, which helps reduce blur from hand shake across all focal lengths.
• Panasonic employs optical stabilization built into the lens, generally providing slightly better correction for telephoto zoom shots.

Autofocus System and Shooting Speed: Capturing the Moment

How quickly and accurately a camera focuses can make or break dynamic photography moments.

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus, typical for compacts but generally slower and less responsive than phase detection found on DSLRs or mirrorless models.

Panasonic’s 11 focus points allow some compositional flexibility, although autofocus remains best suited for stationary subjects given the lack of continuous AF or face detection.

Olympus claims some basic AF tracking capability, but in practical use with the slow contrast detect system, it’s more of a convenience than a robust sports or wildlife tracking tool.

Burst shooting tops at 1 fps on Olympus and 2 fps on Panasonic - both modest, indicating these are not cameras aimed at fast-action photography.

Flash and Low Light Performance

Built-in flashes are essential in compact cameras but vary in range, modes, and synchronization.

• Olympus flash range: approximately 4.7 meters
• Panasonic flash range: about 5.1 meters

Panasonic offers a slow sync flash mode in addition to auto, on, off, and red-eye settings. Olympus adds fill-in flash for more balanced exposures.

Neither camera supports external flashes, limiting low-light extensibility.

Given both have relatively small sensors, expect noise and grain to become apparent above ISO 400-800. Panasonic’s higher ISO ceiling theoretically offers more versatility in low light, but noise artifacts increase quickly beyond ISO 800.

Video Capabilities: Record Your Stories

Video is an increasingly sought-after function, even in compact cameras.

Both cameras cap HD recording at 720p, standard for their era but not considered high-definition by current standards. Motion JPEG format results in large file sizes, lacking more advanced compression like H.264 found in modern cameras.

No external mic support limits audio quality control, and lack of 4K or 60fps options restricts professional video flexibility. However, optical and sensor-shift stabilization help smooth handheld footage.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Both cameras use proprietary lithium-ion batteries modeled for compact form.

• Olympus: Li-50B battery (details on capacity vary)
• Panasonic: Battery info less specified, but similar Lithium-Ion standard

Neither provides official CIPA-standard battery life ratings, but given compact sensor and simpler processors, expect modest capacity suited for casual shooting sessions rather than professional day-long events.

Storage is handled via:

• Olympus: SD/SDHC cards + internal storage
• Panasonic: SD/SDHC cards + internal storage

No wireless connectivity - no Wi-Fi, NFC, or Bluetooth - means file transfer relies on USB 2.0 cables (both support this) or card readers. Olympus includes mini-HDMI output; Panasonic does not.

Weather Sealing and Durability

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged build claims such as shockproof or freezeproof.

Both are best suited for controlled environments without exposure to moisture or dust extremes.

Real-World Photography Applications

Let’s look at how these cameras perform across various photography types.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus 5010’s brighter F2.8 aperture at wide end allows better subject-background separation (bokeh) and smoother skin tone rendering.
• Panasonic’s longer zoom lens lets you create tighter headshots from a longer distance but with less shallow depth of field.
• Both have no face or eye detection autofocus, making critical focus on eyes challenging.
• Autofocus speed is modest; ideal for posed portraits rather than spontaneous capture.

Landscape Photography

• Both offer landscape-appropriate focal lengths starting near 25–26mm equivalent.
• The Olympus 14MP sensor edges out slightly for large prints.
• Dynamic range is limited by sensor size and CCD technology, but both succeed in bright daylight.
• Weather sealing is absent; be cautious shooting outdoors in harsh conditions.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Neither camera is built for action due to slow autofocus and limited burst rates.
• Panasonic’s 200mm tele lens offers more reach, but autofocus lag can limit capturing quick movements.
• Olympus offers some AF tracking but remains ineffective under fast motion.
• Low continuous shooting speeds (1-2 fps) further limit capability.

Street Photography

• Olympus’ smaller, lighter body is better for discreet street shooting.
• Both cameras lack fast autofocus or face detection, but you can compose and shoot spontaneously in well-lit urban environments.
• Low-light street photography is limited by high noise and weak autofocus.

Macro Photography

• Panasonic’s 3 cm macro focus advantage allows exciting close-up work with sharp detail.
• Olympus offers decent macro at 7 cm.
• Image stabilization helps handheld macro shooting, but neither camera excels like dedicated macro lenses or mirrorless options.

Night and Astrophotography

• Higher ISO abilities on Panasonic open low-light shooting options, but noise levels at elevated sensitivities limit image quality.
• Both cameras lack long maximum shutter speeds suitable for astrophotography; Olympus goes up to 2 seconds exposure, Panasonic only to 1/60, limiting night sky capture.
• No RAW support means less post-processing flexibility.

Video and Vlogging

• Both record 720p video stabilized adequately for casual recording.
• Absence of microphone input and limited resolution make them suboptimal for serious video projects.
• Fixed lens and compactness aid portability for travel vlogs if quality expectations are moderate.

Travel Photography

• Olympus 5010 excels with ultra-slim design, effective image stabilization, and bright wide aperture.
• Panasonic offers zoom versatility but at increased size/weight.
• Battery life is limited on both; packing spares advised for long shoots.

Professional Work

• Neither camera supports RAW capture or advanced exposure modes, so they fall short for professional workflows.
• Compact design and ease of use may be useful for quick documentation or second-body needs but not full-time professional use.

Performance Summary and Ratings

Based on repeated testing protocols measuring autofocus speed, image quality under various ISO conditions, ergonomics, and operational speed, we devised an overall rating.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

Here’s a detailed view by genre, with scores reflecting suitability.

Sample Images Comparison

These sample images highlight key differences under varied lighting and subject types.

Olympus 5010 front Olympus 5010 screen back Panasonic ZR1 front Panasonic ZR1 screen back

• Olympus images are slightly sharper with better color saturation in daylight.
• Panasonic’s longer zoom lets you frame tighter subjects but shows more noise at higher ISOs.
• Macro samples demonstrate Panasonic’s superior close focus ability.

Value and Price Considerations

Considering current market value and used pricing, Olympus offers better affordability but compromises zoom reach and some features.

Panasonic justifies its higher price by offering more telephoto range, better macro capability, and slightly improved ISO performance.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Pick the Olympus Stylus 5010 if you:

• Want a highly pocketable, ultracompact camera that travels well.
• Prioritize faster wide-aperture lens for portraits and indoor shooting.
• Are an absolute beginner or casual photographer wanting easy handling.
• Value ease of use over extensive zoom or manual controls.

Pick the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 if you:

• Need an extended zoom range for wildlife, sports, or street photography.
• Want to explore macro photography with better close focus capability.
• Desire higher ISO sensitivity for dim conditions.
• Are willing to carry a slightly larger camera for more creative control.

Getting Started and Next Steps

Both models hold nostalgic appeal and are good entry points for learning photography fundamentals without complexity. Given their age, consider pairing with an external memory card and a spare battery to maximize usage.

Check out hands-on demos in local camera shops or try to borrow one before purchase to feel their handling. For extended creative work, modern entry-level mirrorless cameras now offer better image quality and features worth exploring when budget permits.

We hope this detailed, experience-backed comparison helps illuminate your path toward the right compact camera - whether to capture family memories, refine your skills, or embark on new visual storytelling adventures.

Happy shooting!