Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus SP-600 UZ versus Panasonic FZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-600 UZ (12MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is very close and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SP-600 UZ was revealed 5 months before the FZ40 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-600 UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SP-600 UZ scores vs the FZ40 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SP-600 UZ and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40. The full galleries are available at Olympus SP-600 UZ Gallery and Panasonic FZ40 Gallery.

For those who are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-600 UZ features outside dimensions of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") along with a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ40 has sizing of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-600 UZ versus Panasonic FZ40 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SP-600 UZ and the FZ40.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-600 UZ and FZ40 is 69 and 68 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-600 UZ and FZ40.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic FZ40 to result in greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively.