Olympus SP-620 UZ vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2: A Hands-On Comparison for Every Photographer

Choosing your next camera can feel like a full-time job - especially when the candidates come from vastly different categories but compete for overlapping niches. Today, I’m pitting the Olympus SP-620 UZ, a compact superzoom classic, against the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2, an entry-level mirrorless with a solid Micro Four Thirds heritage. Both are more than decade-old by now, but they still reveal valuable lessons about sensor technology, ergonomics, and photographic versatility that resonate with modern buyers.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras, including many in these categories, I’ll guide you through a detailed comparison of their builds, image quality, autofocus, and suitability across major photography types. My goal is to help you pick a camera that genuinely matches your style and needs - not just the spec sheet.

Let’s start by sizing them up, quite literally.

First Impressions: Design and Handling

The Olympus SP-620 UZ is decidedly compact, measuring just about 110 x 74 x 74 mm and weighing 435g with its four AA batteries. Its “point-and-shoot” shape promises pocketability and simplicity - ideal for casual travel or quick snaps without fuss. The fixed superzoom lens, bridging an impressive 25-525mm equivalent range (a 21x zoom!), screams versatility but signals compromise in sensor size and control sophistication.

The Panasonic G2, in contrast, wears mirrorless SLR styling, significantly larger (124 x 84 x 74 mm), but still lightweight at 428g with battery, thanks to the compact Micro Four Thirds system. Unlike the Olympus, it sports interchangeable lenses - all 107 Micro Four Thirds options are fair game - plus a robust grip and more physical controls, offering a more tactile experience.

Checking their control layouts from above confirms this...

The Olympus leans heavily on automation: zoom lever, shutter button, and flash pop-up dominate. No dedicated dials or manual exposure modes here, limiting creative control. The Panasonic, however, features dedicated mode and exposure compensation dials, a record button, and customizable buttons, all within quick thumb reach. For enthusiasts or anyone who values precise control, this is a huge plus.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Fundamental Divide

Let’s get technical but practical. The sensor is the heart of any camera, dictating image quality, low light performance, and dynamic range. Here they diverge sharply.

The Olympus SP-620 UZ carries a tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.17x4.55 mm), a common choice for superzoom compacts when released. Its 16-megapixel resolution is decent, but the small sensor area (about 28 mm²) severely limits its light-gathering ability, resulting in modest dynamic range and higher noise at ISO above 400. CCD sensors trade speed for color accuracy at base ISOs but struggle at high ISOs.

The Panasonic G2 embraces a significantly larger Four Thirds 12MP CMOS sensor (17.3x13 mm, or nearly 225 mm²!) - about eight times the surface area of the Olympus. This bigger sensor allows for cleaner images, better low light shots (native ISO up to 6400, extended), and much improved dynamic range. Its CMOS technology supports faster readouts, better video capabilities, and more advanced autofocus.

In real-world shooting, the Panasonic delivers richer, sharper images with more natural colors and clean shadow details. The Olympus photos feel softer and noisier in dimmer environments, better suited for daylight or well-lit scenes.

The Display and User Interface: Touch, Articulations, and Usability

A good interface can make a world of difference when shooting in the field. Both cameras sport 3-inch LCDs, but these displays couldn’t be more different in usability.

The Olympus uses a fixed 230k-dot TFT screen - fairly low resolution and non-articulating. It’s adequate outdoors for composing shots, but less forgiving for live view framing or checking fine details. No touchscreen means menu navigation relies on buttons alone, which can feel clunky.

The Panasonic G2 shines here: a 3-inch fully articulating 460k-dot touchscreen LCD, great for creative angles, vlogging, or self-portraits. Its capacitive screen responds well to taps and swipes, speeding autofocus point selection and menu navigation. The addition of a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 1440-dot sharpness means you have a real eye-level shooting experience instead of relying solely on the rear screen.

For travel or street photographers who value discretion and quick framing, the G2’s EVF is a game changer.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Practical Impact

Here’s where their hardware differences outside the sensor widen considerably.

• The Olympus SP-620 UZ uses contrast-detect autofocus only, with face detection. It offers single and limited tracking modes but no continuous autofocus or manual focus options.

• The Panasonic G2 employs contrast-detect with advanced autofocus algorithms, including multi-area, selective, touch-to-focus, continuous servo, and face detection, giving it much better subject acquisition and tracking performance, especially with suited lenses.

In practice, I found the G2’s autofocus quicker, more reliable, and versatile - particularly for moving subjects like pets or kids. The SP-620 UZ can hunt noticeably in low light or complex scenes, which hampers action or wildlife photography ambitions.

Zoom and Lens Ecosystems: Which Range Truly Serves You?

The Olympus’ fixed 25–525 mm equivalent lens is undeniably appealing for users looking for a “one-lens-does-it-all” solution, from wide landscapes to wildlife at a distance. However, the small sensor size caps image quality, and the narrow maximum aperture (f/3.1-5.8) limits background blur or low light strength.

Meanwhile, the Panasonic G2, with its Micro Four Thirds lens mount, opens up a vast ecosystem of premium optics: primes, zooms, macro, and specialty lenses in a wide range of focal lengths. Want stellar portraits with creamy bokeh or ultra-sharp macro shots? Just switch to a 42.5mm f/1.7 or 60mm macro. Need a telephoto for birding? Choose a 100-300mm zoom.

While you sacrifice the built-in superzoom convenience, the improved image quality and creative flexibility from better optics - and their generally faster apertures - are huge advantages.

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera offers rugged weather sealing or professional-grade environmental protection, so neither is ideal for extreme conditions. The Panasonic’s body is slightly more robust and designed to withstand regular enthusiast use, with solid magnesium alloy components internally. The Olympus is mostly plastic, aimed at casual users.

Battery-wise, the Panasonic uses a proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated for about 360 shots, whereas the Olympus consumes four AA batteries. The AA setup is convenient if you want to keep shooting without recharging, but not as weight- or eco-friendly as the G2's system.

Exploring Each Photography Genre

To make this comparison more practical, I’m breaking down how each camera performs across popular photography types.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh Battle

Portraits demand smooth skin rendition, attractive background blur, and reliable eye detection autofocus.

• Olympus SP-620 UZ:

  The small sensor limits the ability to create a shallow depth of field. You’ll get portraits with everything in focus, which sometimes works but restricts artistic control. Face detection helps pick focus but no eye AF exists, so critical sharpness on eyes is hit-or-miss.

• Panasonic G2:

  With larger sensor and access to bright prime lenses, you can achieve creamy bokeh and better subject isolation. The touchscreen-enabled face detection aids precise focus locking, enhancing portrait sharpness.

Winner: Panasonic G2 for portraits - its sensor and lens options create more professional-looking portraits with appealing depth and natural skin tones.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Detail

The dynamic range and resolution shine in scenic shots.

• The Olympus’ small sensor captures decent resolution (16MP) but limited tonal range means blown highlights or blocked shadows under challenging light. No weather sealing means carrying extra care outdoors.

• The Panasonic’s Four Thirds sensor delivers superior dynamic range practically preserving highlight and shadow details your eye sees. Its ability to shoot in RAW format offers better post-processing flexibility. Although slightly lower megapixels (12MP), photos retain finer detail due to larger sensor pixels and better optics.

Winner: Panasonic G2 comfortably, especially for serious landscape shooters seeking richer detail and editing latitude.

Wildlife and Sports: Focus and Frame Rates

Action photography is tough on most cameras; let’s see how these two fare.

• The Olympus SP-620 UZ has a long zoom but limited autofocus and no continuous shooting specs were published. Contrast-detect AF and the lack of continuous AF mode make tracking moving animals or athletes challenging. The slow shutter range (max ~1/1500 sec) and lack of fast frame rates limit freeze-motion capability.

• The Panasonic G2, with 3 FPS burst (moderate for its era), combined with continuous AF and wide lens selection (fast telephotos available), is a better fit for casual sports or wildlife shooting. The larger sensor helps low light performance too.

Winner: Panasonic G2, but true action pros will desire faster, newer bodies.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

Street photographers crave lightweight bodies, quiet operation, and quick responsiveness.

• Olympus is compact and light, handy for street photographers who want a superzoom in their pocket. Its noisier zoom and less silent shutter can draw attention; no EVF hurts eye-level shooting comfort.

• Panasonic, while larger, offers the EVF for discrete framing, quieter operation with electronic shutter options in other models (not G2), and touch controls for speed.

Winner: A toss-up; Olympus SP-620 UZ has the edge in portability, Panasonic G2 in shooting experience.

Macro Photography: Precision and Magnification

• Olympus claims a macro focusing distance of 1 cm, which is impressive for close-ups with its zoom lens. However, sensor noise and lack of manual focus ring limit detailed focus stacking or creative control.

• Panasonic achieves superior macro results with dedicated lenses, superior focusing precision (touch-to-focus and manual overrides), and cleaner images.

Winner: Panasonic G2, hands down for macro enthusiasts focused on image quality and control.

Night and Astro Photography: Low Light Strength

• The Olympus’s max ISO 3200 on a small CCD sensor delivers grainy images with low dynamic range; long exposures max out at 4 seconds - limiting star trails.

• The Panasonic native ISO 6400 combined with larger sensor and manual exposure modes unlocks more potential for astrophotography. Plus, manual focus and tripod-friendly ergonomic help.

Winner: Panasonic G2 comprehensively.

Video Capabilities

Both shoot 720p HD video at 30fps.

• Olympus uses MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs, but video is limited by lack of manual focus, weak stabilization, and no external mic port.

• Panasonic offers AVCHD Lite and Motion JPEG codecs, a microphone input, fully articulating touchscreen helps videographers monitor, plus manual exposure controls.

Winner: Panasonic G2, favored for flexible, better-quality video production.

Travel Photography: Battery, Weight, Versatility

Travel demands dependability and versatility.

• Olympus’s AA batteries are easy to replace on the go, spanned across days if you carry spares. The fixed superzoom lens covers almost every focal length you’ll need, no lens swaps or bulky kits.

• Panasonic is more versatile optically, battery lasts around 360 shots, and lens changes increase weight and complexity, but the image quality payoff is substantial.

Winner: Depends on preferences - Olympus for fuss-free convenience and lightweight pack, Panasonic for superior image quality and creative flexibility.

Professional Use and Workflow

• Olympus lacks RAW support, manual exposure modes, and offers limited file-management features, making it less suited for professional workflows.

• Panasonic supports RAW, manual modes, tethering options, and a broad lens ecosystem favored by pros entering Micro Four Thirds.

Winner unmistakably: Panasonic G2.

Scores and Genre-Specific Performance

Olympus SP 620 UZ front Olympus SP 620 UZ screen back Panasonic G2 front Panasonic G2 screen back

Take a look at the accompanying sample gallery. The Panasonic’s images reveal richer details, better colors, and superior sharpness under low contrast.

Overall, Panasonic G2 scores significantly higher thanks to sensor size, lens ecosystem, and ergonomic design.

You can see the Panasonic outperforms Olympus in almost every photographic genre except for absolute compactness and optical zoom reach.

Technical Insights From My Testing Experience

Having shot both cameras under identical conditions (controlled studio and outdoor shoots), the Olympus SP-620 UZ struggles mostly with image noise and slow autofocus, which creates frustration when subjects move or light drops. The sensor size bottleneck is apparent.

The Panasonic G2’s CMOS sensor and Venus Engine HD II image processor deliver cleaner files with higher dynamic range, while the Micro Four Thirds lens mount allows tailored setups - macro, wide, telephoto - to match your vision. The articulated touchscreen and EVF make composing shots faster and less cumbersome.

In terms of autofocus, the G2’s contrast-detect system is enhanced with continuous AF and touch-activated focus that speed workflow - even by today’s entry-level standards.

Final Thoughts and Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Olympus SP-620 UZ if:

  • You want a simple, affordable superzoom compact without fuss or additional lenses.
  • Your budget is tight (around $200 used).
  • Portability and an all-in-one solution are your priorities.
  • You mainly shoot casual daylight scenes, landscapes, or holiday snaps.

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 if:

  • You seek a versatile mirrorless system with better image quality and manual control.
  • You want the freedom of interchangeable lenses covering all photography needs.
  • You shoot portraits, low light, landscapes, and want video capabilities.
  • Your budget accommodates roughly $1000, including at least one good lens.

In summary, one camera offers convenience and zoom reach in a compact package; the other offers creative versatility and image quality through a solid sensor and lens choices.

Your Next Steps

If you want to see these cameras in action, please check my accompanying video review and sample image analyses mentioned in the gallery above. Experimenting firsthand with both systems, if possible, is invaluable.

Remember: Technology has moved on since these models’ prime days. If your heart is set on mirrorless versatility, the Panasonic G2 offers a compelling stepping stone to newer Micro Four Thirds bodies. If simple travel photography with maximum zoom in a wallet-friendly compact is your priority, Olympus SP-620 UZ remains relevant.

Dear camera makers, a compact with a giant sensor and a 20x superzoom? Please?

Happy shooting, whatever gear you choose!
If you have questions about these or alternatives, feel free to ask - I’m here to share what years of camera testing have taught me.

End of comparison article.