Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic GH4: A Hands-On, In-Depth Camera Showdown

When shopping for a digital camera, it’s easy to get overwhelmed in the sea of options. Two cameras that couldn’t be more different - yet might both interest certain photography enthusiasts - are the Olympus SP-610UZ and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4. They come from distinct market segments and eras, yet both offer unique value depending on your photography goals and budget.

I’ve spent years putting cameras through their paces, and I’m here to provide a detailed, practical comparison of these two. Whether you’re a casual shooter curious about superzooms or a serious content creator considering a professional mirrorless body, this article will help you decide which system better fits your needs.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

Right off the bat, you notice the stark difference - and you can see it clearly in the size comparison image below.

The Olympus SP-610UZ is a compact superzoom point-and-shoot camera weighing just 405 grams, sporting a small body with a fixed 28-616mm equivalent lens. Its form factor feels like a chunky compact you'd snap on vacation - pocketable but chunky.

By contrast, the Panasonic GH4 is a pro-level mirrorless system camera with a traditional SLR-style body weighing 560 grams (without lens). While heavier, it fits naturally in the hands with a pronounced grip, dedicated controls, and a layout designed for serious photographers.

The SP-610UZ has a plastic, consumer-oriented build, lacking any weather sealing or ruggedness. The GH4, on the other hand, weather-seals its body making it reliable in tougher environments - a must-have for professionals shooting outdoors.

The ergonomics of the GH4 shine with a robust control ring and numerous customizable buttons, whereas the SP-610UZ is simplified to appeal to beginners (and cheapskates who don't want to fuss with settings).

Takeaway: For travel or casual use, the Olympus offers a versatile zoom in a small package. For serious, all-weather shooting with better handling, the GH4 is the clear winner.

Control Layout and User Interface: Ease vs. Mastery

Let’s look at the actual user interface because that often separates amateurs from pros. Here’s a top-down control layout view:

The SP-610UZ sports a minimalist layout: a mode dial with a handful of scene modes but no manual exposure controls, no aperture or shutter priority, and a fixed 3” LCD screen of modest 230k-dot resolution. It's designed to get you shooting quickly, hands-off.

Meanwhile, the GH4 boasts a fully articulated 3” OLED touchscreen at a crisp 1,036k-dot resolution. Its joystick, command dials, and programmable function buttons grant you rapid access to manual focus, exposure compensation, ISO, white balance bracketing, and creative video settings.

For photo enthusiasts who like to tinker or video creators demanding extensive control, the GH4 interface feels like a well-thought-out cockpit; the SP-610UZ feels more like a simple lever to push.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: The Core Difference

This section is where the gulf between these two cameras truly widens, reflecting their different generations and purposes. Let's check sensor size and specs:

• Olympus SP-610UZ: Equipped with a 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.17x4.55 mm) at 14MP resolution. This is typical for compact superzooms and yields an image area of roughly 28 mm².
• Panasonic GH4: Uses a much larger Four Thirds CMOS sensor (17.3x13 mm) offering 16MP resolution and an image area near 225 mm² - nearly 8 times the surface area.

Why does sensor size matter? A larger sensor collects more light, giving you superior dynamic range, better low-light performance, and greater control over depth of field. The GH4’s sensor produces images with noticeable improvements in color depth and tonal gradation, both critical for professional image quality.

Technical data backs this up - DxOMark ratings show a 23.2-bit color depth and 12.8 stops of dynamic range on the GH4. (Olympus SP-610UZ hasn’t been officially tested by DxO, but compact sensor performance generally trails significantly.)

If you’re seeking pin-sharp landscapes or portraits with clean skin tones and creamy bokeh, the GH4 is your reliable workhorse. The SP-610UZ can capture decent casual snaps but will struggle in low-light or with selective focus.

Display and Viewfinder: What You See Is What You Get

Both cameras prioritize live view but differ greatly in quality and usability.

The SP-610UZ features a non-touch, fixed 3" TFT LCD with only 230k dots. It’s bright enough for sunny day framing but lacks resolution or articulation, limiting flexibility for shooting angles.

Conversely, the GH4’s OLED touchscreen sings in color accuracy, contrast, and resolution. Its flip-out design enables selfies, macro shoots from low angles, and video vlogging. Additionally, the GH4 includes a bright, detailed electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2,359k-dot resolution covering 100% of the frame - which the Olympus lacks altogether. Using a viewfinder is indispensable in bright sunlight or action photography.

This difference alone can make or break your shooting experience depending on your style.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Speed Matter in Action

A camera is only as good as its ability to capture the moment. Let’s delve into autofocus.

• Olympus SP-610UZ uses contrast-detection AF with 11 focus points, no manual focus option, no tracking modes, and no face or eye detection. It hunts noticeably in low light and can feel sluggish for moving subjects. Continuous AF or tracking? Nope.

• Panasonic GH4 features a sophisticated contrast-detection system with 49 focus points, touch AF, face detection, eye detection, continuous AF tracking, and selectable AF areas. While it doesn’t have phase-detect pixels on sensor, its AF speed is impressive for the generation. It handles fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports far more competently.

Put simply, if you want to shoot a hummingbird or capture decisive expressions at a wedding, the GH4's AF system will be your ally. SP-610UZ is limited mostly to static or slow subjects.

Lens Systems and Flexibility: Fixed Zoom vs. Interchangeable Glory

A big difference is the SP-610UZ’s fixed zoom lens versus the GH4’s Micro Four Thirds lens mount.

The Olympus SP-610UZ sports a hefty 28-616 mm equivalent lens with f/3.3-5.7 aperture. That’s an 22x optical zoom on a prime budget camera, great for travel or casual wildlife snaps without lens swapping.

However, fixed lenses impose constraints: image quality, maximum aperture, and depth of field control can’t be improved without buying a new camera.

The Panasonic GH4 supports the vast Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem - with over 100 lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, Panasonic, and more. You get access to superfast primes for portraits, macro optics for close-ups, ultra-wide-angle lenses for landscapes, and pro telephoto zooms for wildlife or sports photography.

No contest here: focus stacking, manual aperture control, or using specialty lenses (e.g., tilt-shift or fisheye) are well within the GH4’s reach, but impossible on the SP-610UZ.

Continuous Shooting and Burst Performance

If you shoot sports, wildlife, or kids in action, frame rate, and buffer size matter.

• The SP-610UZ offers a casual continuous shooting speed of one frame per second - painfully slow by modern standards.

• The GH4 delivers a blazing 12 frames per second with full autofocus tracking (on compatible lenses), plus an electronic shutter option to shoot silently.

This stark difference makes the GH4 a far more capable tool for dynamic, fast-paced photography.

Video Capabilities: From Casual Clips to Professional 4K

Even if you’re primarily a photographer, video performance often influences purchase decisions.

• Olympus SP-610UZ records video maxing out at 720p (1280x720) at 30fps in Motion JPEG format, which is bandwidth-inefficient and results in large file sizes. No microphone input, no headphone jack, no 4K, no professional video controls.

• Panasonic GH4 was a game-changer when released, pioneering affordable 4K video recording in a mirrorless body. It shoots 4K (4096x2160) at 24p and 3840x2160 at up to 30fps, with advanced codecs (MOV, AVCHD), focus peaking, zebra patterns, and clean HDMI output. It sports microphone and headphone jacks for sound monitoring, plus full manual exposure modes optimized for video shooters.

If video is even remotely on your radar, the GH4 seats high on the list of affordable professional options. The SP-610UZ, while serviceable for home videos, feels very limited by today’s standards.

Battery Life and Storage

Practical considerations include how long the camera lasts on a charge and memory options.

• The SP-610UZ uses 4x AA batteries with a claimed 340 shots per charge. While convenient (you can buy AAs anywhere), compact camera performance is limited, and battery life runs down quickly if shooting extensively or with flash.

• The GH4 runs on a rechargeable DMW-BLF19 lithium-ion battery, rated around 500 shots (CIPA standard), which is excellent for a mirrorless camera in its class. The rechargeable pack also allows extra batteries for prolonged fieldwork.

Both cameras use a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

Connectivity and Modern Features

While camerawork remains the priority, convenience features count for a lot.

• The SP-610UZ supports Wi-Fi via Eye-Fi cards (an older, now-obsolete standard), USB 2.0, and HDMI for viewing.

• The GH4 includes built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote control, HDMI output supporting 4K monitors, microphone and headphone ports, and a touch LCD for easy sharing.

Putting It All Together: Head-to-Head Strengths & Weaknesses

What Does This Mean for You? Matching Cameras to Your Photography Style

You’re a Casual Shooter / Budget Traveler With Minimal Fuss - Consider the Olympus SP-610UZ

If you want a camera to capture vacation landscapes and family moments without worrying about changing lenses, tweaking settings, or carrying bulky gear, the SP-610UZ is a practical option. It excels at daylight shooting, thanks to long zoom reach, and is pocket-friendly for a 22x zoom.

Keep your expectations grounded, though: low-light behavior, image quality, and speed are limited. It’s primarily a point-and-shoot with some zoom magic - perfect for beginners, kids, or those on tight budgets who just want a decent all-in-one.

You’re a Serious Enthusiast or Professional Ready to Invest in Quality - The Panasonic GH4 Almost Runs Itself

If you want granular manual control, professional-quality stills and video, a fast and reliable AF system, and a lens system that grows with you, the GH4 shines. Its 4K video, weather sealing, and advanced performance make it a workhorse for weddings, wildlife safaris, portrait studios, and filmmaking.

Its learning curve is steeper, and it demands investment in quality lenses - but that’s the price for flexibility and industry-grade results.

Specialty Use Case Insights

• Portraits: The GH4’s larger sensor and interchangeable lens options provide creamy bokeh, smooth skin tones, and eye-tracking autofocus - the Olympus falls short here.
• Landscapes: GH4’s superior dynamic range preserves shadow and highlight detail; SP-610UZ’s compact convenience might tempt casual hikers.
• Wildlife: GH4’s fast continuous shooting and tracking AF is great; SP-610UZ catches distant birds but with slower AF.
• Sports: GH4 geared toward burst and focus - Olympus better at static subjects.
• Street: SP-610UZ’s compact form can be nimble; GH4 larger but discreet with certain lenses.
• Macro: GH4 supports manual focus and macro lenses; Olympus claims 1cm macro but with limited control.
• Night/Astro: GH4's high ISO and raw files aid astrophotography; SP-610UZ lacks raw and struggles in low light.
• Video: GH4 dominates with 4K, manual exposure, audio inputs; SP-610UZ limited to basic 720p.
• Travel: SP-610UZ is lighter, simpler; GH4 offers versatility at weight cost.
• Professional Work: GH4’s file formats (RAW), build, controls, and workflow integration make it a work-proven choice.

See their performance mapped out here:

Sample Images: A Tale of Two Cameras

Finally, to bring it home, here’s a gallery of sample images from both cameras covering various scenarios:

Olympus SP 610UZ front Olympus SP 610UZ screen back Panasonic GH4 front Panasonic GH4 screen back

Notice (for example) the richness of color, detail in shadows, and shallow depth of field difference. The GH4 images feel cleaner and more “professional,” but don’t discount the SP-610UZ’s ability to capture decent everyday pictures without fuss.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In the camera world, one size rarely fits all. Both Olympus SP-610UZ and Panasonic GH4 serve different purposes - think of them as clubs for different kinds of thumbs.

• Choose the Olympus SP-610UZ if you want an all-in-one zoom compact for casual snapshots, minimal learning curve, and affordability. It’s a sensible pick for someone upgrading from a phone camera without the need for professional image quality.

• The Panasonic GH4 is a powerful tool for content creators who demand pro-level stills and video in a rugged package. It’s future-proof, flexible, and packed with features - but requires lens investment and a willingness to learn.

If budget permits and your style leans toward creative control, the GH4 is undoubtedly the better choice. However, don’t underestimate the value of a simple camera like the SP-610UZ for keeping photography fun and accessible.

No matter which you pick, understanding these differences makes you better prepared to select a camera that will inspire your photography journey rather than frustrate it. Happy shooting!