Clicky

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40

Portability
69
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus SP-800 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 Key Specs

Olympus SP-800 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 3200 (Bump to 1000)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-840mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Revealed February 2010
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-810 UZ
Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic FZ40, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the FZ40 (14MP) is relatively comparable and they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SP-800 UZ was introduced 5 months earlier than the FZ40 which means that they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SP-800 UZ matches up vs the FZ40 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-800 UZ over the Panasonic FZ40

 SP-800 UZ FZ40 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Olympus SP-800 UZ

 FZ40 SP-800 UZ 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic FZ40

 SP-800 UZ FZ40 
IntroducedFebruary 2010July 2010Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-800 UZ provides outside 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 Panasonic FZ40 has dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic FZ40 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the SP-800 UZ compared to the FZ40.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-800 UZ and FZ40 is 69 and 68 respectively.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The image below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-800 UZ and FZ40.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact megapixels therefore you can expect comparable quality of photographs but you will need to take the launch date of the cameras into account.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Portrait photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography info
28
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
46
you can focus manually
decent MP (14MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Street photography highlights
Panasonic FZ40 Street photography highlights
46
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
51
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
heavier than competition (494g)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Sports photography info
Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography info
47
great zoom range (28-840mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography highlights
61
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
long reach (840mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
54
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (494g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SP-800 UZ
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ40
41
relatively wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
51
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have Time Lapse function
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Vlogging advice
Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging advice
24
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
23
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
heavier than competition (494g)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic FZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic FZ40
 Olympus SP-800 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SP-800 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FZ45
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-02-02 2010-07-21
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 1000 -
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 143 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-840mm (30.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Minimum shutter speed 12s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.10 m 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 455 gr (1.00 lb) 494 gr (1.09 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $270 $420