Olympus E-510 vs Panasonic GF7

The Olympus E-510 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in March 2007 and January 2015. The E-510 is a DSLR, while the GF7 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 15.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Olympus E-510		Panasonic GF7
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses		Micro Four Thirds lenses
10 MP – Four Thirds sensor		15.8 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600		ISO 200-25,600
Optical viewfinder		No viewfinder, LCD framing
2.5" LCD – 215k dots		3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second		5.8 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		Lens stabilization only
750 shots per battery charge		230 shots per battery charge
136 x 92 x 68 mm, 538 g		107 x 65 x 33 mm, 266 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-510 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-510 and the Panasonic GF7. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The GF7 can be obtained in two different colors (black, pink), while the E-510 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic GF7 is considerably smaller (44 percent) than the Olympus E-510. Moreover, the GF7 is substantially lighter (51 percent) than the E-510. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-510 nor the GF7 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-510) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (GF7). Mirrorless cameras, such as the GF7, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the E-510 gets 750 shots out of its Olympus BLM-1 battery, while the GF7 can take 230 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLH7 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Olympus E-510	136 mm	92 mm	68 mm	538 g	750	n	Mar 2007	EUR 799	ebay.com
2.		Panasonic GF7	107 mm	65 mm	33 mm	266 g	230	n	Jan 2015	EUR 499	ebay.com
3.		Canon M10	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	301 g	255	n	Oct 2015	EUR 499	ebay.com
4.		Olympus E-3	142 mm	116 mm	75 mm	876 g	750	Y	Oct 2007	EUR 1 749	ebay.com
5.		Olympus E-30	142 mm	108 mm	75 mm	701 g	750	n	Nov 2008	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
6.		Olympus E-410	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	435 g	500	n	Mar 2007	EUR 699	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-420	130 mm	91 mm	53 mm	440 g	500	n	Mar 2008	EUR 499	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-520	136 mm	92 mm	68 mm	535 g	750	n	May 2008	EUR 599	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-600	130 mm	94 mm	60 mm	535 g	500	n	Aug 2009	EUR 399	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-620	130 mm	94 mm	60 mm	521 g	500	n	Feb 2009	EUR 599	ebay.com
11.		Olympus E-P1	121 mm	70 mm	36 mm	355 g	300	n	Jun 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
12.		Olympus E-P2	121 mm	70 mm	36 mm	355 g	300	n	Nov 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
13.		Olympus E-P3	122 mm	69 mm	34 mm	369 g	330	n	Jun 2011	EUR 699	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic G6	122 mm	85 mm	71 mm	390 g	340	n	Apr 2013	EUR 549	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic G7	125 mm	86 mm	77 mm	410 g	350	n	May 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic GF6	111 mm	65 mm	38 mm	323 g	340	n	Apr 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic GX800	107 mm	65 mm	33 mm	269 g	210	n	Jan 2017	EUR 549	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The GF7 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 38 percent) than the E-510, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the GF7 offers a higher resolution of 15.8 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the E-510. This megapixels advantage translates into a 26 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the GF7 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.77μm versus 4.74μm for the E-510). However, it should be noted that the GF7 is much more recent (by 7 years and 10 months) than the E-510, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic GF7 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GF7 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.2 inches or 58.3 x 43.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.7 x 35 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.3 x 11.5 inches or 38.9 x 29.2 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-510 are 18.2 x 13.7 inches or 46.3 x 34.7 cm for good quality, 14.6 x 10.9 inches or 37.1 x 27.8 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.1 inches or 30.9 x 23.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus E-510 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Olympus E-510	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.2	10.0	442	52
2.		Panasonic GF7	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	22.7	12.3	874	70
3.		Canon M10	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.4	753	65
4.		Olympus E-3	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.6	10.5	571	56
5.		Olympus E-30	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.3	10.4	530	55
6.		Olympus E-410	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.1	10.0	494	51
7.		Olympus E-420	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.5	10.4	527	56
8.		Olympus E-520	Four Thirds	10.0	3648	2736	none	21.4	10.4	548	55
9.		Olympus E-600	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.5	10.3	541	55
10.		Olympus E-620	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	none	21.3	10.3	536	55
11.		Olympus E-P1	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.4	10.4	536	55
12.		Olympus E-P2	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	720/30p	21.5	10.4	505	56
13.		Olympus E-P3	Four Thirds	12.2	4032	3024	1080/60i	20.8	10.1	536	51
14.		Panasonic G6	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	21.3	11.5	639	61
15.		Panasonic G7	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	4K/30p	22.8	12.4	904	71
16.		Panasonic GF6	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	20.7	10.6	622	54
17.		Panasonic GX800	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	4K/30p	23.2	13.3	586	73
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The GF7 indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-510 does not. The highest resolution format that the GF7 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the E-510 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the GF7 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-510, the Panasonic GF7, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Olympus E-510	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Panasonic GF7	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/500s	5.8/s	Y	n
3.		Canon M10	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.6/s	Y	n
4.		Olympus E-3	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Olympus E-30	optical	Y	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Olympus E-410	optical	n	2.5 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Olympus E-420	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
8.		Olympus E-520	optical	n	2.7 / 215	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	Y
9.		Olympus E-600	optical	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Olympus E-620	optical	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Olympus E-P1	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	Y
12.		Olympus E-P2	optional	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	n	Y
13.		Olympus E-P3	optional	n	3.0 / 614	fixed	Y	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Panasonic G6	1440	n	3.0 / 1036	swivel	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	n
15.		Panasonic G7	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	n
16.		Panasonic GF6	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
17.		Panasonic GX800	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/500s	10.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that differentiates the E-510 and the GF7 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The E-510 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the GF7 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the GF7 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The E-510 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the GF7 uses SDXC cards. The E-510 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the GF7 only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-510 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Olympus E-510	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Panasonic GF7	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon M10	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Olympus E-3	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Olympus E-30	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Olympus E-410	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Olympus E-420	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Olympus E-520	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Olympus E-600	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Olympus E-620	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Olympus E-P1	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Olympus E-P2	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Olympus E-P3	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Panasonic G6	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Panasonic G7	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Panasonic GF6	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Panasonic GX800	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-

It is notable that the E-510 has a hotshoe, while the GF7 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the E-510 and the GF7 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-510 was replaced by the Olympus E-520, while the GF7 was followed by the Panasonic GX850. Further information on the features and operation of the E-510 and GF7 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-510 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic GF7 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-510 or the Panasonic GF7 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus E-510:

• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/500s) to freeze action.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 230) on a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2007).

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (15.8 vs 10MP), which boosts linear resolution by 26%.
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/60p video.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 215k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5.8 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (107x65mm vs 136x92mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 272g or 51 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (38 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 7 years and 10 months of technical progress since the E-510 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GF7 is the clear winner of the contest (16 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-510 and the Panasonic GF7 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the E-510 or the GF7 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Olympus E-510	..	89/100	..	+ +	3.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2007	EUR 799	ebay.com
2.		Panasonic GF7	4/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	EUR 499	ebay.com
3.		Canon M10	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	Oct 2015	EUR 499	ebay.com
4.		Olympus E-3	..	88/100	..	+ +	o	4/5	Oct 2007	EUR 1 749	ebay.com
5.		Olympus E-30	..	..	..	71/100	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2008	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
6.		Olympus E-410	..	86/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2007	EUR 699	ebay.com
7.		Olympus E-420	..	85/100	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2008	EUR 499	ebay.com
8.		Olympus E-520	..	87/100	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	May 2008	EUR 599	ebay.com
9.		Olympus E-600	..	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	Aug 2009	EUR 399	ebay.com
10.		Olympus E-620	3/5	88/100	..	72/100	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2009	EUR 599	ebay.com
11.		Olympus E-P1	..	+	..	66/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
12.		Olympus E-P2	3/5	+	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Nov 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
13.		Olympus E-P3	..	83/100	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2011	EUR 699	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic G6	4/5	+ +	..	..	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	EUR 549	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic G7	4/5	+ +	3.5/5	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	May 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic GF6	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic GX800	..	+	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	EUR 549	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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