Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic GH3

Below is a extended review of the Olympus SP-800 UZ versus Panasonic GH3, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the GH3 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the SP-800 UZ (1/2.3") and GH3 (Four Thirds) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The SP-800 UZ was released 3 years before the GH3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a in depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the SP-800 UZ scores vs the GH3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-800 UZ Gallery and Panasonic GH3 Gallery.

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SP-800 UZ has got exterior dimensions 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 GH3 has specifications of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-800 UZ versus Panasonic GH3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SP-800 UZ vs the GH3.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SP-800 UZ and GH3 is 69 and 66 respectively.

In many cases, it can be hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking specifications. The graphic here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-800 UZ and GH3.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-800 UZ due to its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic GH3 will give greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older SP-800 UZ is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.