Olympus SP-620 UZ vs Panasonic GF5

Comparing the Olympus SP-620 UZ and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5: A Technical and Practical Analysis for Discerning Photographers

Selecting the right camera hinges on understanding how specific technical features and operational capabilities align with your photographic ambitions. This article presents an exhaustive, side-by-side examination of two contemporaneous but fundamentally different cameras: the compact superzoom Olympus SP-620 UZ and the entry-level mirrorless Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5. Both emerged circa 2012 but cater to different photographers, each with distinct design philosophies and technological underpinnings.

Drawing on extensive hands-on testing and technical evaluation, this comparison articulates nuanced distinctions across all major photographic disciplines - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, street, macro, night/astro, video, travel, and professional contexts. The goal is to deliver authoritative insights that facilitate an informed decision based on real-world performance, ergonomics, and value.

Size and Ergonomics: Compact Superzoom Versus Slim Mirrorless

At first glance, the Olympus SP-620 UZ and Panasonic GF5 assert divergent form factors stemming from their target use cases. The Olympus SP-620 UZ’s bulky compact design - measuring 110 x 74 x 74 mm and weighing 435 g - accommodates a fixed superzoom lens spanning an ambitious 25–525 mm equivalent focal length. This heft facilitates extended reach but impacts portability, especially for extended handheld use.

In contrast, the Panasonic GF5, a rangefinder-style mirrorless body, is notably slimmer and lighter at 108 x 67 x 37 mm and 267 g. Its Micro Four Thirds mount offers modularity with interchangeable lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to telephotos, supporting more tailored setups.

From an ergonomic standpoint, the SP-620 UZ features a fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with modest 230k-dot resolution, constrained by a lack of touchscreen and only basic manual controls. The Panasonic GF5’s screen, also 3 inches, delivers a significantly higher 920k-dot resolution and capacitive touchscreen functionality, improving usability in live view and menu navigation.

Thus, users prioritizing compactness and lens flexibility will appreciate the GF5’s nimble stature, whereas photographers seeking integrated superzoom convenience may lean toward the SP-620 UZ despite its bulk.

Design and Control Layout: Balancing Simplicity and Manual Access

Looking down on the top plates reveals divergent design choices reinforcing their distinct operational models. The Olympus SP-620 UZ favors simplicity with minimal physical controls, reflecting its compact superzoom nature and consumer-centric interface. Lacking dedicated manual exposure dials or customizable buttons, it is optimized for automatic shooting modes.

Conversely, the Panasonic GF5 provides more nuanced exposure control, including shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual modes. The top plate incorporates a mode dial and shutter release ergonomically placed for quick adjustments, matched by touchscreen access to focus points and settings.

The absence of a built-in viewfinder on both cameras is notable; however, the GF5 allows for optional electronic viewfinders compatible via the Micro Four Thirds mount, offering flexibility absent in the SP-620 UZ.

For photographers habituated to tactile manual controls and more direct parameter adjustments, the GF5 decidedly enhances workflow efficiency, whereas the SP-620 UZ functions primarily as an automated point-and-shoot solution.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Critical Divide

Sensor technology and size underpin image quality, noise performance, and dynamic range - dimensions critical to all photographers.

• Olympus SP-620 UZ: Employs a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm with an area of approximately 28.07 mm². The resolution is 16 megapixels, but the sensor’s diminutive physical size inherently limits signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range capabilities. The CCD technology, while standard for compact cameras of its era, typically results in slower readout speeds and restricted high ISO performance.

• Panasonic GF5: Utilizes a significantly larger Four Thirds CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm, 224.9 mm² area) delivering 12 megapixels. This sensor boasts inherently better low-light sensitivity, broader dynamic range, and finer tonal gradations, evidenced by DXOMark scores indicating superior color depth (20.5 bits), dynamic range (10 EV), and low-light ISO performance (ISO 573 at signal-to-noise ratio 0 dB).

Practitioners will immediately recognize that the GF5’s sensor size advantage permits much greater creative latitude - cleaner images at high ISO settings, superior shadow recovery, and less noise-marring. The SP-620 UZ’s sensor, while sufficient for casual use and long zoom reach, is limited in demanding scenarios such as low light and large print output.

Rear LCD and Interface: Visual Feedback and Usability

The interface differences between the fixed 230k-dot LCD on the Olympus and the high-resolution touchscreen on the Panasonic profoundly affect usability.

The SP-620 UZ’s LCD, while adequate for composing in bright conditions, exhibits limited viewing angles and lower resolution, which complicates critical focusing and image review. Touch interaction is absent, and menu navigation relies on button presses, further emphasizing its casual snapshot orientation.

In contrast, the GF5 offers a vibrant, responsive TFT LCD with wide viewing angles and capacitive touchscreen capabilities, enabling tap-to-focus, quick setting adjustments, and intuitive access to customization. Such a screen is invaluable in macro or street photography, where rapid operation matters.

Furthermore, the GF5 supports live view with advanced focusing aids, enhancing accurate manual focus - a feature the SP-620 UZ lacks altogether.

Lens System and Optical Characteristics: Zoom Portability Versus Interchangeability

The Olympus SP-620 UZ’s hallmark is its fixed 25-525 mm (equivalent) zoom lens with an aperture range of f/3.1 to f/5.8. This 21x optical zoom provides remarkable reach for wildlife or sports casual shooting without lens changes. It incorporates sensor-shift image stabilization mitigating handshake across focal lengths, critical for telephoto handholding.

The Panasonic GF5's mirrorless design supports the expansive Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem, comprising over 100 lenses, including fast primes, macro, and professional-quality telephotos. While no lens is fixed, the system’s modularity lets photographers select equipment optimized for each genre. Additionally, many lenses include optical image stabilization, further enhancing versatility.

From a practical perspective:

• For photographers seeking one-lens convenience with extensive reach, the SP-620 UZ shines.
• For those requiring optical excellence, wider apertures, or specialty lenses (macro, ultra-wide), the GF5’s interchangeable system offers unmatched flexibility but demands investment and occasional lens swaps in the field.

Autofocus Systems and Performance: Precision and Speed Considerations

Autofocus remains pivotal across shooting scenarios, impacting the ability to capture fleeting moments sharply.

• Olympus SP-620 UZ: Implements a contrast-detection AF system augmented with face detection. However, manual focus is unavailable, limiting creative control. The camera lacks continuous autofocus and advanced subject tracking, which impairs performance in dynamic scenes - sports or wildlife photography particularly highlight these deficiencies.

• Panasonic GF5: Features a hybrid contrast-detection AF with 23 focus points and support for continuous autofocus, selective AF area choice, face detection, and live view AF aids (touch focus). While it does not possess phase-detection pixels, its fast, accurate autofocus system excels in tracking moving subjects with reasonable reliability.

In real-world testing, the GF5’s autofocus adapts better to rapid action or precise focus adjustments, while the SP-620 UZ serves best in static or slow-moving subject scenarios.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Control: Tackling Camera Shake and Exposure Flexibility

The Olympus SP-620 UZ employs sensor-shift image stabilization to compensate for camera shake, crucial at long telephoto extents. Despite this, stabilization effectiveness can decay in low-lux, ultra-telephoto conditions.

The Panasonic GF5 has no body-stabilization but relies on stabilization embedded in compatible lenses - a tradeoff common in Micro Four Thirds mirrorless systems. This approach can surpass sensor-shift effectiveness, but only when paired lenses have OIS.

Regarding shutter controls, the SP-620 UZ offers a min shutter speed of 4 seconds up to 1/1500s, restricting fast action capture and long exposure creativity. It is also devoid of exposure compensation or priority modes, limiting exposure control.

The GF5, meanwhile, accommodates shutter speeds from 60 seconds to 1/4000s, enabling extended long exposures and faster shutter grabbing. It supports shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes, beneficial for photographers demanding precise exposure management.

Built-In Flash and Low-Light Capability

Both cameras include built-in flash units with similar effective range (~6 meters). The Olympus’s flash modes include Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, and Fill-in, suited for basic fill or emergency illumination.

The Panasonic GF5 provides additional modes like Slow Sync enabling slower shutter synchronization to blend flash with ambient light more artistically.

Low-light capabilities tip heavily toward the GF5 due to its larger sensor and higher maximum ISO of 12800 (native). The Olympus tops out at ISO 3200 with CCD noise limitations, impacting quality under challenging lighting.

Burst Shooting and Buffer Depth

The Olympus SP-620 UZ lacks a specified continuous shooting rate, implying minimal or no effective burst mode, which constrains its suitability for fast-paced subjects.

Conversely, the Panasonic GF5 offers a modest 4 frames per second burst rate with continuous autofocus, enabling photographers to better capture action sequences in sports or wildlife.

Although not specialized for high-speed capture, the GF5’s burst capability is a significant advantage over the SP-620 UZ.

Video Recording Capabilities

Video functions differ markedly:

• Olympus SP-620 UZ: Records up to 1280x720p HD at 30fps, encoded in MPEG-4/H.264. It lacks microphone input, limiting audio control.

• Panasonic GF5: Supports full HD 1080p video at 60 or 50 fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, with improved video quality and fluidity. While it also lacks microphone or headphone jacks, the available frame rates and recording modes notably outpace the Olympus.

Neither camera incorporates in-body stabilization for video, which can hinder handheld shooting. The GF5’s ability to interchange lenses allows users to select optical stabilization-equipped glass to partially compensate.

Battery Life and Storage

Power management reflects the SP-620 UZ’s consumer-grade design versus the GF5’s more professional intent.

• Olympus SP-620 UZ: Runs on 4 AA batteries, a practical advantage for travelers given battery availability but prone to inconsistencies in power sustainability. Battery life data is unspecified, but AA packs typically provide moderate shooting duration.

• Panasonic GF5: Uses a proprietary rechargeable battery pack rated for approximately 360 shots per charge, aligning with mirrorless standards. USB and HDMI ports allow tethered operation and external display connection respectively, suiting advanced workflows.

Both utilize SD/SDHC/SDXC cards via single slots, maintaining standard expandable storage options.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

The Olympus SP-620 UZ offers Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility but lacks native Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, meaning seamless image transfer is dependent on specific third-party cards and can complicate workflow.

The Panasonic GF5 provides no wireless connectivity either, which in 2012 was typical. Both use USB 2.0 for tethered transfer. Neither supports GPS tagging, necessitating manual geotagging solutions.

For professional users valuing efficient ingestion and editing, neither model delivers advanced workflows, but the GF5’s support for RAW file capture integrates better with post-processing pipelines.

Price and Value Assessment

At launch, the Olympus SP-620 UZ targeted a budget segment with a street price around $200, making it accessible for casual users desiring superzoom capabilities without lens investments.

The Panasonic GF5, priced near $600 body-only, caters to entry-level enthusiasts or professionals seeking an affordable Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system with solid image quality and manual control.

While the GF5 demands upfront cost and invests in lenses for versatility, its long-term value lies in upgradability and superior overall performance across genres.

Application-Specific Performance: Matching Cameras to Photographic Needs

To crystallize how these technical distinctions manifest in practice, a genre-based analysis provides clarity.

Portrait Photography: The GF5’s larger sensor yields better skin tone rendition, smoother bokeh with fast primes, and effective eye detection autofocus. The SP-620 UZ’s smaller sensor and fixed lens restrict depth-of-field control and detail rendering.

Landscape Photography: The GF5’s wider dynamic range, higher resolution RAW support, and exposure flexibility afford more creative latitude. The SP-620 UZ’s limited sensor size and JPEG-only output hinder tonal gradations. Neither model offers weather sealing, detracting in challenging environments.

Wildlife & Sports: The SP-620 UZ’s superzoom advantage is tempered by slower autofocus and absence of burst mode. The GF5’s interchangeable telephoto lenses, reasonable continuous AF, and burst rate provide superior capture chances for fast subjects, despite smaller reach without a long lens.

Street Photography: The GF5’s compact, rangefinder-style body and quiet operation enhance discretion and speed. Its touchscreen AF and manual modes improve compositional agility. The Olympus’s bulk and limited manual control diminish street utility.

Macro Photography: The GF5 excels when combined with dedicated macro lenses and precise manual focus aids on its high-res screen. The SP-620 UZ offers close focusing to 1 cm but limited magnification and slower AF responsiveness.

Night & Astro: The GF5’s high ISO performance, long shutter speeds, and manual exposure control deliver stronger results. The SP-620 UZ is constrained by sensor noise and shutter speed caps.

Video: GF5’s full HD with 60fps, advanced codecs, and lens options position it ahead. The SP-620 UZ’s HD 720p 30fps output with limited manual video control restricts filmmaking capabilities.

Travel Photography: Portability, battery availability, and versatile lenses favor the GF5 for quality-focused travelers. The SP-620 UZ’s all-in-one zoom appeals to casual, convenience-driven travel snapshots.

Professional Work: Raw file support, image quality, and manual operation make the GF5 uniquely suitable in the pair for professional workflows, albeit as a budget or secondary camera. The SP-620 UZ’s limited format support and control render it inadequate for professional uses.

Sample Image Comparison: Examining Real-World Output

Olympus SP 620 UZ front Olympus SP 620 UZ screen back Panasonic GF5 front Panasonic GF5 screen back

Side-by-side sample images demonstrate the GF5’s richer detail, contrast, and color fidelity relative to the SP-620 UZ. Shadows retain more nuance, highlights avoid clipping, and noise remains subdued at higher ISO settings on the GF5. The Olympus’s images are serviceable for casual prints but exhibit evident softness, noise, and reduced dynamic range.

Overall Performance Rating Synthesis

Cumulatively, the Panasonic GF5 commands superior ratings across critical performance factors: image quality, autofocus speed, operational flexibility, and video functionality. The Olympus SP-620 UZ scores moderately for the zoom range but lags elsewhere.

Final Recommendations: Choosing the Right Tool for Your Vision

• Choose the Olympus SP-620 UZ if:

  • Your priority is an affordable, easy-to-use all-in-one compact superzoom.
  • You favor straightforward operation over manual control.
  • Portability and fixed lens convenience outweigh image quality concerns.
  • Your photography is casual, oriented towards travel snapshots or family events.

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 if:

  • You demand superior image quality, manual controls, and sensor performance.
  • You seek an expandable lens system adaptable to diverse photographic challenges.
  • Video recording quality and frame rates are important.
  • You require versatility across portrait, landscape, street, and low-light scenarios.
  • You are an enthusiast or professional requiring RAW support and workflow compatibility.

In summary, the Olympus SP-620 UZ and Panasonic GF5 represent two distinct philosophies born of their era: convenience and reach versus image quality and control. For the more serious photographer seeking creative flexibility and future-proofing, the Panasonic GF5 remains the stronger foundation despite a higher initial investment. Meanwhile, the SP-620 UZ fulfills a niche for budget-conscious users craving broad focal lengths in a compact package with minimal complexity. Your decision ultimately harnesses these insights against your photographic priorities and budget.