Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Olympus SH-1

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Olympus SH-1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and they are both built by Olympus. The resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the SH-1 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-800 UZ was revealed 5 years before the SH-1 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the SP-800 UZ grades versus the SH-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-800 UZ & Olympus Stylus SH-1. The full galleries are available at Olympus SP-800 UZ Gallery & Olympus SH-1 Gallery.

If you are planning to travel with your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-800 UZ provides external measurements of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) while the Olympus SH-1 has proportions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Olympus SH-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SP-800 UZ vs the SH-1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-800 UZ and SH-1 is 69 and 88 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The pic underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-800 UZ and SH-1.

To sum up, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Olympus SH-1 to give more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged SP-800 UZ is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.