Olympus E-620 vs Panasonic L10

The Olympus E-620 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2009 and August 2007. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 10 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Olympus E-620		Panasonic L10
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Four Thirds lenses		Four Thirds lenses
12.2 MP, Four Thirds Sensor		10 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
no Video		no Video
ISO 100-3200		ISO 100-1600
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.7" LCD, 230k dots		2.5" LCD, 207k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
4 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		Lens stabilization only
500 shots per battery charge		450 shots per battery charge
130 x 94 x 60 mm, 521 g		135 x 96 x 78 mm, 556 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-620 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10? 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-620 and the Panasonic L10. 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.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic L10 is notably larger (6 percent) than the Olympus E-620. Moreover, the L10 is markedly heavier (7 percent) than the E-620. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-620 nor the L10 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. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Olympus E-620»	5.1 in	3.7 in	2.4 in	18.4 oz	500	n	Feb 2009	699	-		Olympus E-620
	Panasonic L10«	5.3 in	3.8 in	3.1 in	19.6 oz	450	n	Aug 2007	599	-		Panasonic L10
	Olympus E-PL1« »	4.5 in	2.8 in	1.7 in	11.8 oz	290	n	Feb 2010	599	-		Olympus E-PL1
	Olympus E-450« »	5.1 in	3.6 in	2.1 in	15.5 oz	500	n	Mar 2009	499	-		Olympus E-450
	Olympus E-600« »	5.1 in	3.7 in	2.4 in	18.9 oz	500	n	Aug 2009	449	-		Olympus E-600
	Olympus E-P1« »	4.8 in	2.8 in	1.4 in	12.5 oz	300	n	Jun 2009	799	-		Olympus E-P1
	Olympus E-P2« »	4.8 in	2.8 in	1.4 in	12.5 oz	300	n	Nov 2009	799	-		Olympus E-P2
	Olympus E-30« »	5.6 in	4.3 in	3.0 in	24.7 oz	750	n	Nov 2008	1,299	-		Olympus E-30
	Olympus E-420« »	5.1 in	3.6 in	2.1 in	15.5 oz	500	n	Mar 2008	599	-		Olympus E-420
	Olympus E-520« »	5.4 in	3.6 in	2.7 in	18.9 oz	750	n	May 2008	699	-		Olympus E-520
	Olympus E-410« »	5.1 in	3.6 in	2.1 in	15.3 oz	500	n	Mar 2007	699	-		Olympus E-410
	Olympus E-510« »	5.4 in	3.6 in	2.7 in	19.0 oz	750	n	Mar 2007	799	-		Olympus E-510
	Panasonic G10« »	4.9 in	3.3 in	2.9 in	13.7 oz	380	n	Mar 2010	499	-		Panasonic G10
	Panasonic L1« »	5.7 in	3.4 in	2.5 in	21.4 oz	750	n	Feb 2006	999	-		Panasonic L1
Convert to Metric
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The L10 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 14 percent) than the E-620, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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 size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and 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 E-620 offers a higher resolution of 12.2 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the L10. This megapixels advantage translates into a 11 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the E-620 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.29μm versus 4.74μm for the L10). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the E-620 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 5 months) than the L10, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus E-620 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the E-620 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 20.2 x 15.1 inch or 51.2 x 38.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 16.1 x 12.1 inch or 41 x 30.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 13.4 x 10.1 inch or 34.1 x 25.6 cm. The corresponding values for the Panasonic L10 are 18.2 x 13.7 inch or 46.3 x 34.7 cm for good quality, 14.6 x 10.9 inch or 37.1 x 27.8 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.1 inch or 30.9 x 23.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus E-620 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 are ISO 100 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The E-620 and the L10 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the E-620 has a higher magnification than the one of the L10 (0.48x vs 0.46x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-620 and Panasonic L10 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

One feature that differentiates the E-620 and the L10 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The E-620 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the L10 has to rely on optical image stabilization in OIS-equipped lenses to achieve the same effect.

The E-620 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the L10 uses SDHC cards. The E-620 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the L10 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-620 and Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Both the E-620 and the L10 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The E-620 was replaced by the Olympus E-600, while the L10 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Olympus and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Olympus E-620 better than the Panasonic L10 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Olympus E-620:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (12.2 vs 10MP) with a 11% higher linear resolution.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.48x vs 0.46x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.7" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (230k vs 207k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (4 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 450) on a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 5 months after the L10).

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10:

• More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (14 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in August 2007).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-620 is the clear winner of the match-up (9 : 2 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-620 and the Panasonic L10 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-620 or the L10. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Olympus E-620»	88/100	72/100	4.5/5	o	5/5	Feb 2009	699	-		Olympus E-620
	Panasonic L10«	85/100	+	3.5/5	o	4/5	Aug 2007	599	-		Panasonic L10
	Olympus E-PL1« »	86/100	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2010	599	-		Olympus E-PL1
	Olympus E-450« »	-	-	4/5	-	4/5	Mar 2009	499	-		Olympus E-450
	Olympus E-600« »	-	-	-	-	4.5/5	Aug 2009	449	-		Olympus E-600
	Olympus E-P1« »	+	66/100	4/5	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2009	799	-		Olympus E-P1
	Olympus E-P2« »	+	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2009	799	-		Olympus E-P2
	Olympus E-30« »	-	71/100	4.5/5	-	4/5	Nov 2008	1,299	-		Olympus E-30
	Olympus E-420« »	85/100	+ +	4/5	o	4.5/5	Mar 2008	599	-		Olympus E-420
	Olympus E-520« »	87/100	+ +	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	May 2008	699	-		Olympus E-520
	Olympus E-410« »	86/100	+ +	4/5	o	4.5/5	Mar 2007	699	-		Olympus E-410
	Olympus E-510« »	89/100	+ +	3.5/5	o	4.5/5	Mar 2007	799	-		Olympus E-510
	Panasonic G10« »	-	70/100	4/5	-	4/5	Mar 2010	499	-		Panasonic G10
	Panasonic L1« »	85/100	+	-	o	3.5/5	Feb 2006	999	-		Panasonic L1
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (-) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

Specifications: Olympus E-620 vs Panasonic L10

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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