Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic FZ100

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic FZ100, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the FZ100 (14MP) is pretty comparable and both cameras have the same sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SH-50 was manufactured 2 years later than the FZ100 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-50 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SH-50 grades against the FZ100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SH-50 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus SH-50 Gallery & Panasonic FZ100 Gallery.

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SH-50 comes with exterior dimensions of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ100 has specifications of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic FZ100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the SH-50 compared to the FZ100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-50 and FZ100 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Normally, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The visual below might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-50 and FZ100.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SH-50 to produce more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs more aggressively. The fresher SH-50 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.