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Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
79
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Olympus SP-610UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus SP-610UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-616mm (F3.3-5.7) lens
  • 405g - 107 x 73 x 73mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-600 UZ
  • Newer Model is Olympus SP-620 UZ
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-610UZ (14MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly similar and they possess the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-610UZ was introduced 15 months earlier than the ZS20 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SP-610UZ grades against the ZS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-610UZ over the Panasonic ZS20

 SP-610UZ ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus SP-610UZ

 ZS20 SP-610UZ 
IntroducedApril 2012January 2011More modern by 15 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-610UZ and Panasonic ZS20

 SP-610UZ ZS20 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SP-610UZ has outside dimensions of 107mm x 73mm x 73mm (4.2" x 2.9" x 2.9") with a weight of 405 grams (0.89 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the SP-610UZ against the ZS20.

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-610UZ and ZS20 is 79 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reviewing technical specs. The pic underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-610UZ and ZS20.

As you can tell, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the identical megapixels therefore you should expect similar quality of photographs but you have to take the production date of the products into consideration. The more aged SP-610UZ is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
28
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
30
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
50
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
lighter than average (206 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography factors
39
incredible zoom range (28-616mm 22.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography info
61
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great zoom (616mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
68
lighter than average (206g)
provides focus via touch
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography highlights
40
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
42
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (260 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-610UZ as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
26
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
34
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (206g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus SP-610UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-610UZ and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus SP-610UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SP-610UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-01-06 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-616mm (22.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.7 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 405g (0.89 pounds) 206g (0.45 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 73 x 73mm (4.2" x 2.9" x 2.9") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 340 images 260 images
Battery style AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $299 $349