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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
27
Overall
31
Olympus SP-600 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Key Specs

Olympus SP-600 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-420mm (F3.5-5.4) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Announced February 2010
  • Older Model is Olympus SP-590 UZ
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-610UZ
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Panasonic GF5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SP-600 UZ (12MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the SP-600 UZ (1/2.3") and GF5 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The SP-600 UZ was introduced 3 years before the GF5 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-600 UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the SP-600 UZ grades vs the GF5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-600 UZ over the Panasonic GF5

 SP-600 UZ GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus SP-600 UZ

 GF5 SP-600 UZ 
IntroducedApril 2012February 2010Newer by 26 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Panasonic GF5

 SP-600 UZ GF5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SP-600 UZ has physical measurements of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") and a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF5 has specifications of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-600 UZ and Panasonic GF5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the SP-600 UZ vs the GF5.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-600 UZ and GF5 is 69 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions purely by seeing technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-600 UZ and GF5.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor dimensions. The SP-600 UZ has got the smaller sensor which should make achieving shallower DOF more challenging. The more aged SP-600 UZ will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Portrait photography info
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography info
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
55
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Street photography camera
36
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus via touch
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography highlights
31
amazing zoom range (28-420mm 15.0 x zoom)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ Travel photography information
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography information
51
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
very long zoom (420mm)
no Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
61
has focus via touch
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-600 UZ
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
29
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
59
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-600 UZ as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
20
really wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic port
32
touchscreen enabled
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no microphone support
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Olympus SP-600 UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-600 UZ and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus SP-600 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SP-600 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2010-02-02 2012-04-05
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 143 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 28-420mm (15.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.4 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1/2s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.10 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 455g (1.00 lb) 267g (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 50
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 573
Other
Battery life - 360 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $189 $600