A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Panasonic L10 vs Olympus E-410

The Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 and the Olympus E-410 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in August 2007 and March 2007. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 10 megapixels.

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

Headline Specifications
Panasonic L10
versus
Olympus E-410
Panasonic L10   Olympus E-410
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Four Thirds lenses Four Thirds lenses
10 MP – Four Thirds sensor 10 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 100-1,600
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
2.5" LCD – 207k dots 2.5" LCD – 215k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
450 shots per battery charge500 shots per battery charge
135 x 96 x 78 mm, 556 g 130 x 91 x 53 mm, 435 g
logo
Check L10 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check E-410 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 and the Olympus E-410? 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.

ad

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic L10 and the Olympus E-410. 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 size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Panasonic L10 vs Olympus E-410
Compare L10 versus E-410 top
Comparison L10 or E-410 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-410 is notably smaller (9 percent) than the Panasonic L10. Moreover, the E-410 is markedly lighter (22 percent) than the L10. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the L10 nor the E-410 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 following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 599ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 699ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D60 126 mm 94 mm 64 mm 522 g 500 n Jan 2008 629ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D40X 124 mm 94 mm 64 mm 522 g 520 n Mar 2007 729ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-420 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 440 g 500 n Mar 2008 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 n Mar 2007 799ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-400 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Sep 2006 699ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF5 108 mm 67 mm 37 mm 267 g 360 n Apr 2012 499ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GF3 108 mm 67 mm 32 mm 264 g 300 n Jun 2011 549ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic G1 124 mm 84 mm 45 mm 360 g 410 n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic L1 146 mm 87 mm 64 mm 606 g 750 n Feb 2006 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

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 L10 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 14 percent) than the E-410, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies 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.

Panasonic L10 and Olympus E-410 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 10 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the L10 and the E-410 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the L10 is a somewhat more recent model (by 5 months) than the E-410, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The Olympus E-410 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

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.

L10 versus E-410 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under review, the L10 has a notably higher overall DXO score than the E-410 (overall score 4 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 0.2 bits higher color depth, 0.8 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.2 stops of reduced low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
2.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
3.
 
Nikon D60 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.511.456265
4.
 
Nikon D40X APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.411.451663
5.
 
Olympus E-420 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.510.452756
6.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
7.
 
Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.210.044252
8.
 
Olympus E-400 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.010.612753
9.
 
Panasonic GF5 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.510.057350
10.
 
Panasonic GF3 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.610.145950
11.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
12.
 
Panasonic G1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000none21.110.346353
13.
 
Panasonic L1 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.48052
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding
Both the L10 and the E-410 offer Live View, so that they make it possible to use the rear screen for framing. Both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
ad

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The L10 and the E-410 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%), as well as the same magnification (0.46x). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Panasonic L10 and Olympus E-410 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
Core Features
# image 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.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Nikon D60optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Nikon D40Xoptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Olympus E-420optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
6.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
7.
 
Olympus E-510optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-400optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic GF5none n3.0 / 920 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic GF3none n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.2/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic G11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic L1optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding
The L10 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the E-410 does not have a selfie-screen.

The L10 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the E-410 uses Compact Flash or xD Picture cards. The E-410 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the L10 only has one slot.

ad

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 Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10 and Olympus E-410 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Nikon D60Y- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Nikon D40XY- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-420Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-510Y- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-400Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Panasonic GF5-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic GF3-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic G1Y- / ---mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic L1Y- / ----2.0---
padding

Both the L10 and the E-410 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-410 was replaced by the Olympus E-420, while the L10 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the L10 and E-410 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic L10 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-410 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Panasonic L10 or the Olympus E-410 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

ilogo

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC- L10:

  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (4 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
  • More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (0.8 EV of extra DR).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (14 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 5 months after the E-410).

ilogo

Advantages of the Olympus E-410:

  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 121g or 22 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (500 versus 450) out of a single battery charge.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in March 2007).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the L10 emerges as the winner of the contest (6 : 4 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.

L10 06:04 E-410

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic L10 and the Olympus E-410 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the L10 and the E-410 in practical situations. 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 where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 599ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 699ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D60..80/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 629ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D40X..79/100..+ +4/54/5 Mar 2007 729ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-420..85/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2008 599ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 699ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 799ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-400..85/100....4/54/5 Sep 2006 699ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF53/5......4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 499ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GF33/582/100..71/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 549ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic G1..+ +..70/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic L1..85/100..+..3.5/5 Feb 2006 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

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, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

logo
Check L10 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check E-410 offers at
ebay.com

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.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Panasonic L10 vs Olympus E-410

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Panasonic L10 Olympus E-410
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date August 2007 March 2007
    Launch Price USD 599 USD 699
    Sensor Specs Panasonic L10 Olympus E-410
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 10 Megapixels 10 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3648 x 2736 pixels 3648 x 2736 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.74 μm 4.74 μm
    Pixel Density 4.44 MP/cm2 4.44 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    Image Processor Venus TruePic III
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 55 51
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.3 21.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.8 10.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 429 494
    Screen Specs Panasonic L10 Olympus E-410
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.46x 0.46x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 2.5inch 2.5inch
    LCD Resolution 207k dots 215k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic L10 Olympus E-410
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards CF or XD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic L10 Olympus E-410
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Panasonic L10 Olympus E-410
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLA13 Olympus BLS-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)450 shots per charge500 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 135 x 96 x 78 mm
    (5.3 x 3.8 x 3.1 in)
    130 x 91 x 53 mm
    (5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1 in)
    Camera Weight 556 g (19.6 oz) 435 g (15.3 oz)
    logo
    Check L10 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check E-410 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Panasonic L10 vs Olympus E-410