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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Launched January 2016
Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Earlier Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • New Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus PEN-F versus Olympus SP-820UZ, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Olympus. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and SP-820UZ (14MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and SP-820UZ (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The PEN-F was unveiled 3 years later than the SP-820UZ and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the PEN-F scores vs the SP-820UZ in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 PEN-F SP-820UZ 
ReleasedJanuary 2016August 2012More recent by 42 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Olympus PEN-F

 SP-820UZ PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SP-820UZ

 PEN-F SP-820UZ 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F has got physical measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus SP-820UZ has specifications of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus PEN-F versus Olympus SP-820UZ in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the PEN-F compared to the SP-820UZ.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and SP-820UZ is 84 and 69 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by viewing technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and SP-820UZ.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F using its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus PEN-F will render extra detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The younger PEN-F is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SP-820UZ as a Portrait photography camera
75
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
34
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography details
Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography details
84
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
37
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
heavier than others (485g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography highlights
Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography highlights
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
bad battery pack (330 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
resolution is good (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SP-820UZ as a Travel photography camera
75
boasts focus via touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery pack (330 per charge)
55
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (22mm)
very long zoom (896mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others (485 grams)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography details
Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography details
76
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
bad battery pack (330 shots)
35
fairly wide (22mm)
screen is a good size (3")
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging information
Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging information
78
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
25
fairly wide (22mm)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than others (485g)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Olympus SP-820UZ Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Olympus SP-820UZ
 Olympus PEN-FOlympus Stylus SP-820UZ
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN-F Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-01-27 2012-08-21
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 22-896mm (40.7x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.4-5.7
Macro focus range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 15.00 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427g (0.94 lb) 485g (1.07 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $1,000 $299