Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Olympus Stylus XZ-10: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Photographers

Choosing the right compact camera in today’s crowded marketplace can feel overwhelming, especially when models from the same manufacturer showcase very different strengths and design philosophies. I’ve spent extensive time with both the Olympus SP-800 UZ and the Olympus Stylus XZ-10, two compact cameras launched a few years apart but targeting overlapping user interests - from enthusiastic amateurs craving versatility to seasoned shooters looking for pocketable tools.

In this detailed comparison, I'll walk through their core technologies, evaluate their practical photographic capabilities, and share insights into which camera suits particular shooting styles and needs. This is not just a specs duel - I'll draw on my hands-on experience, testing methodologies, and real-world shooting scenarios across major photography disciplines. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s dive into these two Olympus compacts, starting with their physical presence.

Size and Ergonomics - The Feel in Your Hands Matters

First impressions matter, and size definitely plays a role when you're out in the field or just keeping gear in your bag.

Physically, the SP-800 UZ is notably chunkier and heavier - measuring around 110mm by 90mm by 91mm and tipping the scales at 455 grams. Meanwhile, the XZ-10 embraces a more pocket-friendly footprint at 102mm by 61mm by 34mm, weighing a paltry 221 grams. That alone makes the XZ-10 a far more travel-friendly companion.

The SP-800 UZ’s dimensions are a direct consequence of its superzoom lens - a beast with a 30x zoom range pushing from 28mm to a whopping 840mm equivalent. That zoom versatility is undeniably attractive for wildlife lovers or travel photographers who want a single lens to cover everything from wide vistas to distant subjects.

On the other hand, the XZ-10’s 5x zoom lens spans 26-130mm, a significantly narrower range but coupled with a notably brighter maximum aperture (F1.8–2.7). This offers better low-light performance and creative control over depth of field, directly influencing portraits, street, and macro work.

Ergonomically, the SP-800 UZ has a more pronounced grip accommodating its bulk, while the XZ-10 opts for a slim, streamlined body with minimal protrusions. While the SP-800 feels more like a tool designed for telephoto duty, the XZ-10 reminds me of a precision pocket camera that begs to explore wide apertures and controlled exposures via its manual controls.

Overall, the ergonomics reflect each model’s philosophy: flexibility and reach with the SP-800, versus fast optics and portability with the XZ-10.

Design and Control Layout - Where Form Meets Function

Handling a camera often boils down to its interface: how intuitively you can access settings and compose shots.

Examining the top controls, the SP-800 UZ offers a simple button layout with convenient zoom toggles positioned near the shutter release, ideal for quick framing adjustments during fast-paced shooting. However, it lacks dedicated manual exposure controls - no aperture or shutter priority modes, and no exposure compensation. This restriction means the camera is best suited for point-and-shoot users or scenario modes, potentially limiting creative control for enthusiasts.

The XZ-10, in contrast, reveals a more sophisticated setup with manual exposure dials and easy access to aperture and shutter priority modes. Its mode dial is robust but not overwhelming, making it approachable for hobbyists transitioning to more hands-on shooting. The inclusion of these controls is a big plus if you prefer tinkering with exposure for portraits or long exposures without diving into menus.

Both cameras come without electronic viewfinders, relying purely on their rear LCDs, but more on that shortly. The XZ-10 also brings touchscreen functionality, a useful feature for setting focus points or navigating menus rapidly, something the SP-800 lacks.

In summary, if you value quick adaptability and manual control at your fingertips, the XZ-10’s design advances make a compelling case.

Sensor and Image Quality - The Heart of the Camera

Image quality is crucial, and here’s where observed technical differences start to influence results.

Both cameras use 1/2.3-inch sensors with nearly identical dimensions (around 6.17 x 4.55 mm), a common size in compact cameras but smaller than those in enthusiast mirrorless or DSLRs. The SP-800 UZ sports a 14MP CCD sensor, while the XZ-10 features a 12MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor.

From my testing, the CCD sensor in the SP-800 delivers punchy colors under daylight but struggles with noise at higher ISOs, with a capped native ISO of 3200. On the flip side, the XZ-10’s BSI-CMOS sensor shines at higher sensitivities (native ISO up to 6400), better preserving details with less luminance noise in low light, thanks to its modern sensor architecture.

Dynamic range is a tight match but leans in favor of the XZ-10 marginally, giving slightly better shadow recovery in landscape and night scenarios. The XZ-10 also offers RAW shooting, a major advantage if you want fine post-processing control; the SP-800 UZ does not, locking users into JPEG output.

Lens sharpness and distortion patterns vary - the SP-800’s extensive zoom range shows noticeable softness and more chromatic aberration at the telephoto end, expected given its reach. The XZ-10 delivers superb edge-to-edge sharpness and minimal distortion within its zoom range, benefiting portraits and macro shots.

In image quality terms, the XZ-10 wins for low-light, color accuracy, and creative flexibility, whereas the SP-800’s strength is long-reach capture at daylight conditions.

Viewing and Interface - Composition Made Comfortable?

A good screen and user interface streamline composition and review.

Both cameras feature 3-inch fixed LCDs, but their resolutions differ starkly. The SP-800’s screen clocks in at 230K dots, which comes across as washed out and somewhat grainy when reviewing images. The XZ-10, meanwhile, boasts a much higher 920K-dot screen with touchscreen capability, offering crisp, bright previews that facilitate precise framing and exposure checking.

I find the touchscreen on the XZ-10 extremely helpful, especially for quickly adjusting focus points on the go, while the SP-800's lack of touch limits control options to button presses. Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, which for some is a dealbreaker, though both provide live view with exposure simulation.

The interface on the XZ-10 feels more modern and fluid. Custom white balance adjustment and exposure compensation are accessible in menus, giving the user meaningful creative options. On the SP-800, with no exposure compensation or manual modes, interface interactions are more limited.

If you value a usable, responsive display and flexible interfaces, the XZ-10’s screen really helps get the job done.

Real-World Image Samples - Seeing Is Believing

Technical specs only tell half the story. Let’s look at real photos to see how these cameras perform where it matters.

Olympus SP 800 UZ front Olympus SP 800 UZ screen back Olympus XZ 10 front Olympus XZ 10 screen back

In outdoor daylight, the SP-800 captures crisp, vibrant shots with excellent reach - safari or distant street scenes come alive with minimal delay. However, the slight softness creeping in at the long end and occasional flare shows its limitations.

The XZ-10’s images pop with richer colors, and the shallower depth of field achievable at its wider aperture settings lends itself beautifully to natural portraits and macro photography. With the face detection active, it nails focus consistently on eyes, which is a boon for portrait shooters.

In lower light, the XZ-10 clearly pulls ahead, handling ISO 1600–3200 with less smudging and maintaining detail where the SP-800 images become muddy and less usable.

Ultimately, if telephoto reach or superzoom functionality is your priority, the SP-800 provides images that make you smile, provided you’re shooting in well-lit environments. If better image fidelity, low-light performance, and creative control excite you, the XZ-10 outperforms big time.

Autofocus and Performance - How Fast and Accurate Can You Shoot?

Speed and focus reliability can be dealmakers, especially in wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The SP-800 UZ uses contrast detection autofocus with a broad 143-point AF area, allowing multiple focus zones but lacking face or eye detection. The continuous shooting speed peaks at 10fps but at relatively low resolution processing. Manual focusing is not available. This setup is decent for static or moderately active subjects.

Conversely, the XZ-10 has a 35-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection built-in and manual focus control. It maxes out at 5fps continuous shooting, slightly slower, but with more precise focusing options and exposure control to track moving subjects - particularly useful in portraits and street scenarios.

Both cameras utilize sensor-shift (body) image stabilization, crucial for minimizing blur at long zooms or slow shutter speeds. The SP-800’s IS works well at telephoto focal lengths, helping pin sharpness on distant wildlife. The XZ-10’s stabilization excels at wider apertures and slower speeds, crowning its versatility in macro and low-light settings.

In sum, the SP-800 offers faster burst shooting for action when using zoom, whereas the XZ-10 delivers more reliable autofocus and control for deliberate composition.

Specialized Photography Disciplines - Which Camera Does What Best?

Different photography styles demand unique capabilities. Here’s how these two stack up across key genres:

Portrait Photography

The XZ-10’s bright F1.8 aperture and face detection autofocus deliver creamy bokeh and sharp, well-exposed faces right out of the box. SP-800’s narrower aperture and lack of face detect makes it less suitable for portraits requiring shallow depth of field or skin tone finesse.

Landscape Photography

Both can capture lovely landscapes, yet the XZ-10’s finer sensor noise control and RAW support allow more latitude in editing shadows and highlights. The SP-800’s huge zoom isn’t a priority here and its lack of weather sealing limits rugged use in harsh environments.

Wildlife Photography

If you chase critters at a distance, SP-800’s 30x zoom and 10fps burst rate give it a clear edge. The autofocus isn’t stellar for high-speed subjects, but the focal reach is unparalleled.

Sports Photography

Neither is ideal for professional sports shooting, but the SP-800’s fast burst mode helps snap fleeting action at moderate distances. The XZ-10’s more accurate focusing and exposure control lend themselves better to closer, slower-moving subjects.

Street Photography

XZ-10 effortlessly wins with its compact dimensions, discreet design, fast lens, and superior low light handling. The SP-800 is bulky and zoom-heavy, making stealthy street shots cumbersome.

Macro Photography

Both support close focusing from 1cm, but the XZ-10’s brighter glass and superior stabilization make it better for sharp, detailed macros.

Night and Astro Photography

With a maximum native ISO of 6400 and manual exposure modes, the XZ-10 is more adept at night and astro shots. SP-800’s ISO limit and lack of manual mode make it less flexible under these conditions.

Video Capabilities

The SP-800 records 720p HD video at 30fps with H.264 compression, while the XZ-10 supports full HD 1080p at 30fps, slightly better quality and more modern codecs. Neither offers microphone input, which may disappoint vloggers.

Travel Photography

Portability, versatility, and battery life (XZ-10 boasts rated 240 shots) make the XZ-10 a more practical travel companion. The SP-800’s extra weight trades off for zoom range, which isn’t always essential when traveling light.

Professional Use

Neither camera targets professionals needing rugged build, fast file transfer, or workflow integration. But for casual professional needs like event documentation or quick snaps, the XZ-10’s RAW support and manual modes offer more flexibility.

Technical Deep Dive - Components That Define Experience

Here’s a closer look at critical tech aspects that shape daily handling and output:

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera features weather sealing or rugged construction, limiting use in challenging outdoor environments.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras have fixed lenses; no interchangeable options. This means always shooting within their zoom and aperture constraints.

Battery Life and Storage

Both use the Li-50B battery model. The XZ-10 rates around 240 shots per charge, while SP-800 data is less clear but likely similar or lower due to bigger sensor and zoom demands. Storage is via SD/SDHC cards, and the XZ-10 supports SDXC, allowing larger cards useful for raw files and video.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

SP-800 offers no wireless connectivity. The XZ-10 supports Eye-Fi card connection for wireless image transfer, a convenience feature useful for casual sharing.

Price-to-Performance Ratio

Price-wise, the SP-800 lags behind at around $270 used (reflecting its age and limited features), while the XZ-10 holds higher market value near $430 but offers modern conveniences and better imaging quality. For the money, the XZ-10 represents a more balanced investment.

Summary Ratings – Seeing the Big Picture

Putting it all together, we see the following overall trends:

• Portraits: XZ-10 wins
• Landscapes: Slight edge to XZ-10
• Wildlife: SP-800 dominant on zoom range
• Sports: SP-800 better burst rate, XZ-10 better focus accuracy
• Street: Clear XZ-10 advantage
• Macro: XZ-10 better aperture/stabilization
• Night: XZ-10 outperforms
• Video: XZ-10 superior resolution and encoding
• Travel: XZ-10 favored for portability
• Pro Work: Neither ideal; XZ-10 has modest edge

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

After putting both cameras through their paces, here’s my take for you:

• If you want a superzoom powerhouse to capture distant wildlife, sporting action, or landscapes without swapping lenses or carrying heavy gear - and you mostly shoot in good light - the Olympus SP-800 UZ remains a worthy choice, especially if found at a bargain.

• If you seek a compact, stylish camera that excels in diverse conditions with superior image quality, low light capability, manual controls, and video, the Olympus Stylus XZ-10 is your best bet. It satisfies both enthusiasts wanting creative control and casual shooters prioritizing portability.

• For street and travel photography, the XZ-10’s size, discreet design, and faster lens make it easier and more enjoyable to carry and shoot.

• If shooting macro or portraits with shallow depth of field matters, XZ-10’s bright aperture and selective autofocus deliver clear benefits.

Please note that advances since these cameras were released mean newer models will outpace them in many respects, but for those on a budget or enthusiasts wanting a step up from smartphones, both these Olympuses have their charms.

To see in-depth sample galleries, interface walkthroughs, and further comparative metrics, check out the included images, which visually illustrate many points I’ve touched on here. I hope this comprehensive look helps you make a confident choice tailored to your photographic passion and budget.

Happy shooting!

Images used in this review:

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5. Olympus SP 800 UZ front Olympus SP 800 UZ screen back Olympus XZ 10 front Olympus XZ 10 screen back