Olympus SP-565UZ vs Panasonic ZS200

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Olympus SP-565UZ versus Panasonic ZS200, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the SP-565UZ (10MP) and ZS200 (20MP) and the SP-565UZ (1/2.3") and ZS200 (1") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The SP-565UZ was unveiled 10 years earlier than the ZS200 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-565UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic ZS200 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SP-565UZ matches up versus the ZS200 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SP-565UZ and Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-565UZ Gallery and Panasonic ZS200 Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-565UZ has got external dimensions of 116mm x 84mm x 81mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.2") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS200 has proportions of 111mm x 66mm x 45mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.8") along with a weight of 340 grams (0.75 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-565UZ versus Panasonic ZS200 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SP-565UZ and the ZS200.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-565UZ and ZS200 is 72 and 86 respectively.

Normally, its hard to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing a spec sheet. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-565UZ and ZS200.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SP-565UZ with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic ZS200 will offer greater detail having an extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older SP-565UZ is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.