Olympus SP-600 UZ vs. Panasonic Lumix G85: A Hands-On Comparison for Every Photographer’s Journey

As someone who has evaluated hundreds of digital cameras over the past 15 years, I’m often asked how earlier models stack up against newer, more advanced options. Today, I’m putting two very different cameras head-to-head: the compact Olympus SP-600 UZ superzoom from 2010 and the advanced Panasonic Lumix G85 mirrorless from 2016. Both serve distinct purposes, but understanding their core strengths and limitations can help you decide which fits your photographic needs best.

I’ve spent extensive time shooting with both cameras across multiple genres - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, macro, night photography, and video - to provide a well-rounded, experience-driven comparison. This article will dig into sensor tech, ergonomics, autofocus, image quality, video, and more, so you walk away with clear insights tailored to your unique style and budget.

Let’s dive in.

Size, Handling, and Build: Pocketable Superzoom vs. Rugged Mirrorless

At first glance, these cameras belong to different worlds in size and design philosophy. The Olympus SP-600 UZ is a compact point-and-shoot style superzoom with an impressive 15x zoom range crammed into a small chassis. The Panasonic G85, on the other hand, embraces the more substantial, SLR-style mirrorless form factor favored by serious enthusiasts and pros.

The Olympus measures a humble 110 x 90 x 91 mm and weighs just 455g, making it a travel-friendly grab-and-go option. Its compact body is designed more for convenience than prolonged handling comfort. I found the controls a bit cramped, and the fixed lens means no swapping out optics - but that zoom range of 28-420mm (35mm equivalent) is impressive for such a petite body.

In contrast, the Panasonic G85 sports a larger 128 x 89 x 74 mm footprint and weighs 505g with battery, feeling sturdy and comfortable in hand. Its magnesium alloy and polycarbonate construction combined with weather sealing bring durability for outdoor adventurers and pros worried about the elements. The deep grip, logical button layout, and customizable dials make it easy to shoot for extended periods without fatigue.

From a handling standpoint, the G85 is far better equipped for manual controls, featuring dedicated shutter, aperture, and exposure compensation dials, along with a fully articulated touch screen. The Olympus’ fixed rear screen and basic controls limit your creative freedom somewhat but keep things simple for casual users.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Small Sensor Constraints vs. Micro Four Thirds Versatility

Here’s where the technological gulf becomes obvious. The Olympus SP-600 UZ uses a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm (about 27.7 mm²) with a 12-megapixel resolution. The Panasonic G85 features a much larger 17.3 x 13 mm Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with 16 megapixels (224.9 mm²) - over eight times the surface area.

Why does this matter? In practical terms, larger sensors capture more light and offer superior dynamic range, color depth, and low-light performance. The Panasonic’s sensor also omits the anti-aliasing filter, improving perceived sharpness - a feature absent in the Olympus.

During side-by-side tests under challenging lighting, the G85 consistently produced cleaner images with richer colors and more detail in shadows and highlights. The Olympus, while capable of decent images in bright daylight, quickly showed noise and softness creeping in above ISO 400. Its maximum native ISO tops out at 1600, limiting usability indoors or at dusk.

Additionally, RAW file support is a big advantage for the Panasonic, allowing photographers to extract maximum information during post-processing. The Olympus, unfortunately, offers only JPEG output, restricting flexibility.

On resolution, although the Olympus offers 12MP, the smaller sensor means less detailed images overall. The G85’s 16MP sensor yields sharper results, especially important for landscape or studio work where cropping and fine details matter.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Superzoom Convenience vs. Mirrorless Precision

Autofocus performance can make or break your shooting experience, particularly for wildlife, sports, or street photographers.

The Olympus employs a CCD contrast-detection AF system with a high number of focus points (143) but with limited sophistication. It offers single AF and limited tracking but lacks face detection or eye AF technologies common today. Its burst shooting tops out at 10fps, which is respectable for a compact camera.

The Panasonic G85 boasts a state-of-the-art contrast-detect AF with Depth from Defocus technology, 49 focus points, face detection, subject tracking, and even focus peaking for manual focus precision. It features continuous AF for moving subjects and a burst mode up to 9fps with continuous AF - ideal for sports and wildlife.

In real-world use, the G85 locked focus faster and more accurately, even in low light or constantly changing scenes. The Olympus occasionally hunted for focus, especially when zoomed in at long focal lengths or in dimmer conditions. For fast action, the Panasonic’s AF system proved more reliable.

Usability and Interface: Fixed LCD vs. Fully Articulated Touchscreen

The SP-600 UZ sports a modest 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230k-dot resolution - adequate but unimpressive by modern standards. The always-on nature provides immediate framing, though the lack of touch input or flexible articulation makes live view shooting less convenient.

The G85’s 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen with 1.04 million dots allows for shooting from high, low, or tricky angles; the touchscreen simplifies menu navigation and AF point selection. This flexibility is invaluable for video work, macro, and creative compositions.

Moreover, the Panasonic’s electronic viewfinder (2.36 million dots) covers 100% of the frame and provides eye-level composition with real-time exposure previews. The Olympus lacks any viewfinder, relying solely on the LCD, which slows operation in bright outdoor conditions.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility: Fixed Superzoom vs. Expandable Micro Four Thirds

The Olympus SP-600 UZ’s fixed lens is a versatile 28-420mm equivalent zoom with a maximum aperture range of f/3.5-5.4. This is ideal for travel snapshots or casual wildlife images without carrying extra gear.

However, you’re restricted, with no option to upgrade optics or use specialty lenses - limiting creative possibilities.

By comparison, the Panasonic G85 uses the Micro Four Thirds lens mount, boasting a vast catalog of over 100 native lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third-party manufacturers. From ultra-sharp primes to telephoto zooms and dedicated macro lenses, the system caters to every genre.

I tested the G85 with several lenses including a 12-40mm f/2.8 for landscape and portraits, and a 100-300mm tele-zoom for wildlife. Autofocus speed and image quality remained consistently high thanks to excellent native lens optimization.

Weather Resistance and Durability: Ready for Adventure or Not?

If you’re a landscape or travel photographer, weather sealing is a major buying consideration. The Panasonic G85 features comprehensive environmental sealing against dust and light rain, allowing confident shooting in challenging conditions.

Sadly, the Olympus SP-600 UZ offers no weatherproofing - keep it indoors or fair weather only.

Battery Life and Storage: Compact Convenience vs. Mirrorless Endurance

Compact cameras often shine in low power draw and ease of use, but here the Olympus’ battery life details are unclear, likely reflecting modest shooting spans common to compact superzooms.

The Panasonic G85 officially rates for about 330 shots per charge, matching many mirrorless competitors. Its rechargeable battery pack is straightforward to swap out - a necessity for longer expeditions.

Both cameras use SD/SDHC cards, although the G85 supports SDXC UHS-I cards for faster write speeds, important during 4K video recording or burst mode photography.

Video Capabilities: Limited HD vs. Full 4K with IBIS

Video has become a core feature in modern cameras but wasn’t a focus in 2010 when the SP-600 UZ debuted.

The Olympus can shoot 720p HD at 24fps and VGA at 30fps - serviceable for casual video but hardly professional. No external mic input or stabilization further limits quality.

The Panasonic G85 takes video seriously, offering native 4K UHD capture at 30fps with high bitrate H.264 encoding. It includes advanced features like 4K Photo mode (extracting high-res stills from video), dual I.S. (sensor plus lens stabilization), mic input, and customizable frame rates, suited for both vloggers and videographers.

Shooting Across Genres: Practical Real-World Insights

Portrait Photography

The Panasonic’s larger sensor and no optical low-pass filter deliver pleasing skin tones with smooth bokeh, especially when paired with fast prime lenses. Eye detection AF expedites sharp focus on faces.

The Olympus produces acceptable portraits but with noticeable softness at longer zooms and limited background blur due to smaller sensor and slower aperture.

Landscape Photography

The G85 shines for landscapes thanks to excellent dynamic range (~12.5 EV), high resolution, and weather sealing - plus lens options down to 7mm ultra-wide focal lengths. The Olympus’ limited resolution and dynamic range make landscapes less impressive, and missing weather sealing restricts outdoor use.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The Olympus’s long zoom is handy, but its slower, contrast-based AF and no continuous AF limit success with fast subjects.

The Panasonic’s fast continuous AF, burst mode, and telephoto lens compatibility make it the better choice for wildlife and sports.

Street Photography

The Olympus’ small size and discreet look benefit street shooting, but its slow operation and zoom lens bulk might attract attention.

The G85 is larger but silent electronic shutter and customizable controls provide street photographer appeal.

Macro Photography

The Panasonic supports macro lenses with focus stacking and bracketing features; the Olympus can focus down to 1cm but lacks extension or specialized modes.

Night and Astro Photography

The Olympus struggles in low light beyond ISO 400, while the Panasonic’s ISO range to 25,600, sensor stabilization, and manual controls enable nightscapes and astrophotography.

Travel Photography

Olympus is compact and lightweight, good for travel convenience. The Panasonic offers superior image quality and flexibility but at a tradeoff in size and complexity.

Professional Workflows

The Panasonic supports RAW, tethered shooting, and full manual control - essential for professional workflows. The Olympus’ JPEG-only, limited manual modes hold it back.

Summary Scores and Verdict

Here’s a quick snapshot based on my hands-on testing and specifications:

Who Should Choose Which?

• If you’re looking for a budget superzoom for casual travel snapshots, wildlife glimpses, or pocket convenience without fuss, the Olympus SP-600 UZ is a compact workhorse with a long zoom range. Ideal for beginners or light users who value simplicity over professional features.

• If you demand image quality, reliable autofocus, advanced manual control, video capabilities, and the flexibility to grow your system, the Panasonic Lumix G85 is a strong contender, perfect for enthusiasts, hybrid shooters, bloggers, and pro users.

Final Thoughts

Owning both cameras gave me a rare chance to appreciate how superzoom compacts and mirrorless systems serve very different photographic mindsets. The Olympus SP-600 UZ is a no-frills, travel-friendly camera whose strengths lie in portability and simple versatility. The Panasonic G85, although more of an investment, delivers in every category with advanced sensor tech, weather sealing, rich manual controls, and future-proof video specs.

Investing in the G85 means investing in a system - a platform more than a camera - with a robust lens lineup, repeatable performance, and professional-grade tools. It rewards patience with superior image quality and creative freedom.

I hope this comparison demystifies the key trade-offs and helps you pick a camera that truly fits how you capture your world.

Olympus SP 600 UZ front Olympus SP 600 UZ screen back Panasonic G85 front

In this image gallery, you can observe the balance and fine details the Panasonic G85 renders compared to the Olympus SP-600 UZ’s softer, occasionally noisier shots at higher ISO.