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Olympus FE-5010

 
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Olympus FE-5010 summary

Olympus FE-5010 is Olympus's Small Sensor Compact digital camera originally introduced on January of 2009. It houses a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 3968 x 2976.

The FE-5010 is ranked #216 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and over-all #1182 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should look at our Smart camera finder to see camera rankings based on your personal factors.

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The following is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Olympus FE-5010 history

The Olympus FE-5010 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can take a look at all older and the latest models as well as important specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-FE-4030 front thumbnailOlympus FE-4030
FE-5010 vs FE-4030
26-105mm
F2.6-5.9
14MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-FE-47 front thumbnailOlympus FE-47
FE-5010 vs FE-47
36-180mm
F3.5-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
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Olympus-FE-4000 front thumbnailOlympus FE-4000
FE-5010 vs FE-4000
26-105mm
F2.6-5.9
12MP1/2.3"2009
Olympus-FE-5020 front thumbnailOlympus FE-5020
FE-5010 vs FE-5020
24-120mm
F3.3-5.8
12MP1/2.3"2009
Olympus-FE-45 front thumbnailOlympus FE-45
FE-5010 vs FE-45
36-108mm
F3.1-5.9
10MP1/2.3"2009
Olympus-FE-5010 front thumbnailOlympus FE-501036-180mm
F3.5-5.6
12MP1/2.3"2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus FE-5010 Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of pluses and minuses of the Olympus FE-5010 based on things that are generally considered necessary in a digital camera.

flash built-in
good minimum ISO (64)
good zoom range (36-180mm 5.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (130 grams)
weather proofing
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
doesn't have HDMI support
doesn't have headphone jack
doesn't have microphone jack
doesn't have Timelapse mode
lack of shutter priority mode
lacks phase detect AF
lacks RAW files
manual focus not available
max zoom aperture not good (f5.6)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
no aperture priority
no manual mode
screen does not articulate
screen has low resolution (230 k dot)
screen is not selfie friendly
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
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Olympus FE-5010 Sensor specs

The sensor dimension in the Olympus FE-5010 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 3968 x 2976 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). In body stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter may produce cropping.

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The CCD sensor boasts 12 megapixels and delivers a standard ISO range of 64 - 1600. Sadly, RAW photos are not saved therefore you have less margin for error.

The image below shows the FE-5010's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The FE-5010 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is highlighted in green.

Olympus FE-5010 sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus FE-5010 dimensions

Olympus FE-5010 has a weight of 0.29 pounds (130 grams or 4.59 ounces) and features exterior size of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Olympus FE-5010 is less heavy than various rivals.

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The following is a photo of the Olympus FE-5010 next to a soft drink to help you have a feel for its size.

Olympus FE-5010 dimensions scale

The top view below will show the button design on the FE-5010.

Olympus FE-5010 topview buttons dials

Olympus FE-5010 Lens details

The FE-5010 provides a fixed lens with a focal range of 36-180mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which might not be very good nevertheless it will probably be handy in some situations.

At it's widest 36mm, the lens provides an aperture of f3.5 making it pretty sluggish and not great in low light situations and you may find it hard to capture good bokeh. You will probably also need to increase your ISO giving you noisy shots. For the long end, 180mm comes at f5.6 making it quite sluggish and you will have to go with slower shutter speeds.

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Olympus FE-5010 Connectivity

The FE-5010 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras with NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be used wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to send files and oftentimes change camera settings without the hassle of connecting straight with the camera.

Some apps also stream a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it could be hooked up to an external monitor. A good number of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Olympus FE-5010 Video details

The max video resolution in the Olympus FE-5010 is 640 x 480 and it can save in Motion JPEG file format. 480p is low by today's requirements. You really should shoot for at least FUll HD resolution for video. The body does not have a mic and / or headphone port which means that you have got zero control over your sound. It is probably a better idea to consider an alternative camera should you need decent sound in your videos.

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Olympus FE-5010 Weather Sealing

Olympus FE-5010 comes with weather proofing making it a very good candidate to use in challenging conditions. This is particularly handy when you are uncertain about the elements you may face in outdoor photography.

Olympus FE-5010 Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus FE-5010 is equipped with a 2.7" fixed display screen with a resolution of 230k dots.

Sadly the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Olympus FE-5010 screen and viewfinder Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The View Finder specifications regarding Olympus FE-5010 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be really helpful in bright outdoor situations which will make the camera screen washed out and difficult to view.

Olympus FE-5010 Shutter details

The highest shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Olympus FE-5010 Flash and Hot shoe details

Olympus FE-5010 has got just integrated flash without external flash support.

Olympus FE-5010 Autofocus details

Olympus FE-5010 has got only Contrast Based Auto Focus and lacks Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster and precise than Contrast Based autofocusing.

Olympus FE-5010 has not got manual focusing. Manual focusing mode is good in low light situations or you require more accurate focusing control.

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Olympus FE-5010 Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 offers the maximum (470) battery life in this group of cameras.

Here is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras that come with the strongest battery life:

Olympus FE-5010 for specific kinds of photography

The following graph shows a outline of the Olympus FE-5010 for specific kinds of photography. To see more, check out the specific section below.

Olympus FE-5010 Portrait photography factors

The Olympus FE-5010 has a points total of 20 which is subpar, meaning that it is not appropriate to use for portrait photography. Taking portraits leans heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support and capability to utilize off-camera lighting.

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lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files

Street photography with Olympus FE-5010

Coming in at a above average points tally of 66, the Olympus FE-5010 is a fine choice to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera gives a perfect balance of picture quality plus portability.

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image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lighter than competition in class (130 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Olympus FE-5010 as a Sports photography camera

A subpar sports photography score of 33 suggests the Olympus FE-5010 is not appropriate for taking photos of sports. A camera really should have fantastic focusing and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF

Olympus FE-5010 Travel photography factors

Size is extremely critical in selecting a camera for travel. Over-all, the Olympus FE-5010 gets a decent 60 for a travel camera which makes it fairly acceptable to purchase for your vacations.

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lighter than competition in class (130g)
weather proof
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)

Olympus FE-5010 Landscape photography info

For those who are looking to purchase a camera for landscape photography, the most critical aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Olympus FE-5010 and it's subpar score of 31 for a landscape camera is not appropriate amongst it's competitors.

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image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording

Olympus FE-5010 as a Vlogging camera

A camera for vlogging preferably should offer a articulating display screen, microphone input and preferably IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Olympus FE-5010 is not appropriate as a vlog camera as it gets a subpar score of 28.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (130 grams)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
no mic socket

Olympus FE-5010 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the FE-5010, below is a range of the highest placed cameras that fall in to the class of Small Sensor Compact.

The diagram below gives you a summary of the FE-5010 versus it's top ranked competitors mentioned earlier.

These are various other cameras you may regard as alternative options. To look at a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Olympus
Model type
Olympus FE-5010
Category
Small Sensor Compact
Launched
2009-01-07
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
3968 x 2976
RAW images
Maximum native ISO
1600
Minimum native ISO
64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
36-180mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing range
3cm
Crop factor
5.9
Screen
Range of screen
Fixed Type
Screen size
2.7 inches
Resolution of screen
230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
4 secs
Max shutter speed
1/2000 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
4.00 m
Flash settings
Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution
640x480
Video file format
Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
130 gr (0.29 lbs)
Physical dimensions
96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8")
Other
Battery ID
LI-42B
Self timer
Yes (12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media
xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required)
Storage slots
Single
Cost at release
$130