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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Released January 2009
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus FE-45 versus Panasonic SZ8, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the FE-45 (10MP) and SZ8 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FE-45 was manufactured 6 years earlier than the SZ8 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the FE-45 grades vs the SZ8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Panasonic SZ8

 FE-45 SZ8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus FE-45

 SZ8 FE-45 
ReleasedJanuary 2014January 2009Fresher by 60 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic SZ8

 FE-45 SZ8 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus FE-45 has got external dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ8 has sizing of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus FE-45 versus Panasonic SZ8 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the FE-45 and the SZ8.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the FE-45 and SZ8 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by checking technical specs. The visual below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-45 and SZ8.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic SZ8 to give you extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older FE-45 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Portrait photography camera
19
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
35
good MP (16MP)
includes face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus FE-45
Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
56
has image stabilization (Digital)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (159g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-45
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
26
has image stabilization (Digital)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
34
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Travel photography details
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography details
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
67
lighter than competition (159g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
no Timelapse mode
low battery (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Landscape photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography features
27
has image stabilization (Digital)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual control
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery (200 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging information
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone support
32
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than competition (159 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone socket
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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic SZ8
 Olympus FE-45Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus FE-45 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-01-07 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-108mm (3.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 142g (0.31 pounds) 159g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $130 $275