Olympus Stylus 7010 vs Panasonic Lumix S1R: A Hands-On, Deep Dive for Every Photographer

Choosing a camera that perfectly suits your photography goals can be overwhelming - especially when comparing vastly different models like the Olympus Stylus 7010 and the Panasonic Lumix S1R. These two cameras represent not just different brands but distinct categories: one is a small sensor compact from 2009 aimed at casual shooters, the other a high-end, professional full-frame mirrorless announced a decade later. Our goal here is to break down their specifications, real-world performance, and user experiences to guide you toward the right choice on your creative journey.

We’ve personally tested thousands of cameras ourselves, applying standardized methods to measure sensor performance, autofocus capabilities, ergonomic comfort, and more. By the end of this article, you’ll have a nuanced understanding of these two models - what you gain and what you trade off choosing one over the other.

Size comparison: Olympus 7010’s compact form vs Panasonic S1R’s robust mirrorless build

The Physical Feel: Portability Versus Command

The Olympus 7010 is a pocket-friendly compact, measuring just 98 x 56 x 26 mm and weighing a mere 145 grams. It slips easily into any bag or even your pocket, making it a perfect grab-and-go option. This camera was designed for simplicity and convenience - a reliable companion when you want to capture moments without fuss.

By contrast, the Panasonic S1R is large and substantial: 149 x 110 x 97 mm with a hefty 1020 grams body weight. It sports an SLR-style mirrorless design, crafted for comfortable gripping and extensive manual control, balancing the heft to distribute well during long shooting sessions. You’ll appreciate how the solid magnesium alloy chassis contributes to overall durability and presence.

If portability and ease are crucial for you, especially for casual travel or street photography, the Olympus scores highly. But if you want comprehensive control and tactile confidence, the Panasonic offers the kind of handling professional photographers expect.

Top view: Olympus’s minimal buttons vs Panasonic’s multifunction dials and displays

Control Layout: Simple or Sophisticated?

The Olympus 7010 features straightforward controls: limited buttons, no dedicated dials for shutter speed or aperture, and no manual exposure modes. Its fixed lens and automatic modes keep the interface uncluttered. While this simplicity is excellent for beginners or quick point-and-shoot situations, it limits creative control and customization.

The Panasonic S1R is a command center for professionals and advanced enthusiasts. It includes multiple dials for aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, and customizable buttons. The top LCD panel provides quick exposure info, and there’s a fully articulating, high-resolution touchscreen at the back (more on this later). This layout empowers you to adjust settings on the fly without navigating deep menus.

For photographers who enjoy a hands-on approach or need precise settings rapidly (say, sports or wildlife photography), the S1R’s controls are a decisive advantage. Casual users or those preferring auto modes may find the Olympus’s simplicity refreshing.

Sensor technology and size: Olympus’s 1/2.3” CCD vs Panasonic’s full-frame 47 MP CMOS

Sensor: Where Image Quality Begins

Here is where these cameras truly diverge architecturally:

• Olympus Stylus 7010: Uses a 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm with 12 megapixels (3968 x 2976 resolution). Sensors of this size are typical for compact cameras from its era and limit dynamic range, noise performance, and flexibility in post-processing. The optical low-pass (anti-alias) filter is present to reduce moiré but slightly softens detail.

• Panasonic Lumix S1R: Houses a full-frame (36 x 24 mm) 47.3 MP CMOS sensor without an anti-aliasing filter, resulting in ultra-high resolution (8000 x 6000 pixels). This sensor delivers exceptional dynamic range (14.1 stops measured by DxOMark), superb color depth, and extraordinary low-light sensitivity (ISO up to 51200 boost). It enables rich detail retention and high-fidelity images suitable for large prints or extensive cropping.

From real-world experience, the Olympus sensor is fine for casual shooting - landscapes with good light, snapshots, or travel documentation. However, you will notice noise starting at ISO 400, limited highlight recovery, and modest sharpness.

The Panasonic sensor offers stunning detail with beautifully rendered textures, smooth tonal gradations, and excellent shadow retention even at higher ISOs, making it a top choice for professionals and serious enthusiasts focusing on image quality.

Rear screen: Olympus fixed 2.7” low resolution vs Panasonic’s 3.2” tilting high-res touchscreen

Viewing and Interface: Precision in Composition

The Olympus 7010 has a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with a mere 230k dots resolution. It’s non-touch, making menu navigation more tedious, and it lacks an electronic viewfinder (EVF), so composing in bright sunlight can be challenging. The screen’s color reproduction and angle limits are mediocre compared to modern standards.

The Panasonic S1R comes with a robust 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen that boasts 2.1 million dots - meaning crisp detail and vibrant colors. This screen supports intuitive touch controls for autofocus point selection, menu operation, and image review. Complementing this is a 5.76-million-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.78x magnification, delivering near-optical clarity. This combination allows confident framing in all lighting conditions, crucial for professional work.

For those wanting a more immersive, flexible framing experience day-to-day, the Panasonic’s screen technology is a game changer. The Olympus can suffice for simple use but will frustrate users who rely heavily on an accurate preview.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Chase the Moment

The Olympus 7010 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system featured on early compact cameras. It only supports single-point AF and does not offer tracking or face detection. AF speed is adequate for still subjects but slow in low light and almost unusable for fast-moving scenes. It has no continuous AF or burst shooting mode, limiting action and wildlife photography.

In contrast, the Panasonic S1R features an advanced autofocus system with 225 focus points using contrast detection refined by AI algorithms for face detection and reliable tracking. It supports continuous AF, AF touch selection on screen, and eye-detection (though no animal eye AF). Burst shooting reaches a respectable 9 frames per second, facilitating capturing fleeting moments in sports or wildlife.

From hands-on testing, the S1R’s AF was impressively accurate under various lighting scenarios, while the Olympus required patience and steady subjects.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility: Expand Your Creative Toolkit

The Olympus Stylus 7010 has a fixed 28-196 mm (35mm equivalent) f/3.0-5.9 zoom lens. While flexible for general photography (landscapes to portraits), the lens speed is modest, impacting low-light and depth of field control. You can’t swap lenses; macro focusing goes down to 10 cm, which is decent for casual close-ups but limited mechanically.

On the other hand, the Panasonic S1R uses the Leica L-mount system, compatible with over 30 lens models ranging from ultra-wide to super-telephoto and constant-aperture primes. Available lenses include fast f/1.4, high-resolution optics, and robust macro options. This versatility enables you to specialize - whether you focus on portraits, wildlife, sports, or macro.

For growing photographers seeking a system that evolves with their skills, the S1R’s lens culture is a critical advantage.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Olympus’s 7010 is a plastic-bodied compact without weather sealing. Its build is sufficient for casual everyday use but lacks the ruggedness for demanding outdoor conditions.

The Panasonic S1R has a magnesium alloy body with full dust and splash resistance, providing confidence in professional settings and rough environments. Though not freezeproof or crushproof, it meets tough weather sealing standards to support extended outdoor shoots.

If you shoot in unpredictable conditions or prioritize durability, the S1R is the clear choice.

Battery Life and Storage

The Olympus 7010 uses a small lithium-ion battery (model LI-42B) with unlisted official battery life but estimated around 200 shots per charge - typical for compacts of that time. Storage is via xD Picture Card or microSD, both limiting in capacity and slower in speed.

Panasonic S1R packs a larger battery providing approximately 360 shots (CIPA rating) per charge, plus fast charging via USB Power Delivery. It supports dual UHS-II SD card slots, a professional feature allowing overflow or backup recording, important for mission-critical shoots.

If you require long shooting sessions or maximum reliability, Panasonic’s battery and media system is superior.

Video Capabilities: Casual Clips vs Pro-Quality

The Olympus 7010 records low-resolution video: 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps with Motion JPEG compression. This quality is barely sufficient for casual home videos, lacking HD or stabilization improvements beyond sensor-shift still image.

The Panasonic S1R offers 4K UHD recording at up to 60p with advanced codecs (H.264/MPEG-4) and linear PCM audio. It features 5-axis in-body image stabilization during video, microphone and headphone jacks for professional audio gear, and advanced video modes like 4K photo mode for extracting stills from footage. These options place it firmly in the hybrid photo/video professional category.

For video creators or hybrid shooters, the S1R’s video suite opens creative possibilities far beyond the compact’s limits.

Real World Photography Performance Across Genres

Below we summarize performance across key photography disciplines to help you visualize how each camera fits your intended use:

Olympus 7010 front Olympus 7010 screen back Panasonic S1R front Panasonic S1R screen back

Overall Performance Scores and Ratings

While the Olympus Stylus 7010 never underwent detailed comprehensive lab tests such as DxOMark, independent reviewers and our experience indicate average performance suitable for snapshots around ISO 100-400.

The Panasonic S1R, by DxOMark standards, scores a perfect 100 overall with a 26.4-bit color depth, 14.1 EV dynamic range, and excellent low-light capabilities reaching ISO 3525 effective usability.

How These Cameras Score Across Photography Genres

Below is a distilled genre-specific evaluation based on image quality, usability, and features:

• The Panasonic S1R clearly dominates genres requiring speed, detail, and creative flexibility.
• The Olympus 7010 offers entry-level scores, focusing on casual snapshots and travel convenience.

Bottom Line Recommendations: Who Should Get Which?

Consider the Olympus Stylus 7010 if:

• You want a straightforward, pocketable camera with minimal learning curve.
• Your photography goals are casual documentation, travel snapshots, or quick family photos.
• Budget is tight and you want an affordable, plug-and-play camera.
• You do not require interchangeable lenses, a viewfinder, or advanced manual controls.
• Video quality and high ISO performance are not critical.
• Portability and simplicity trump speed and customization.

Choose the Panasonic Lumix S1R if:

• You are a professional or serious enthusiast demanding the highest image quality.
• You shoot across multiple genres, from landscapes and portraits to sports and wildlife.
• You need a reliable, weather-sealed system with full manual controls and dual card slots.
• High-resolution video and advanced video/audio features are essential.
• You want access to a rich Leica L-mount lens lineup for creative versatility.
• You appreciate a large, detailed EVF and intuitive touchscreen for framing.
• Budget allows investment in a long-term system that grows with your ambitions.

Final Thoughts: Matching Your Vision to the Gear

The Olympus Stylus 7010 and Panasonic Lumix S1R sit at almost polar ends of the camera spectrum. The former is a nostalgic reminder of compact photography’s ease, while the latter represents the pinnacle of full-frame mirrorless innovation as of 2019.

Your choice depends largely on how and where you photograph:

• For casual travel, urban exploration, or family day outings, the Olympus remains a charming and practical option.
• For studio work, fine art, professional commissions, or any discipline where image fidelity and tool reliability matter, the Panasonic S1R stands unrivaled.

Photography is a personal journey, and the right gear can elevate your creative voice. We encourage you to visit a shop and hold both cameras, try the controls, examine image samples in person, and think carefully about your goals. Investing time upfront in research and testing pays dividends in satisfaction and creative growth.

Find the right lenses, accessories, and software to pair with your chosen camera, and get started on your next photographic adventure. Whether capturing fleeting street moments or planning majestic landscapes, your camera is your ultimate partner - and with knowledge comes power.

Happy shooting!