Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic GM1

Following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic GM1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the GM1 (16MP) is pretty close but the SP-800 UZ (1/2.3") and GM1 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The SP-800 UZ was manufactured 4 years before the GM1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-800 UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the SP-800 UZ scores vs the GM1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-800 UZ & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1. The entire galleries are available at Olympus SP-800 UZ Gallery & Panasonic GM1 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus SP-800 UZ comes with exterior 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) whilst the Panasonic GM1 has specifications of 99mm x 55mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") and a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic GM1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the SP-800 UZ compared to the GM1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SP-800 UZ and GM1 is 69 and 93 respectively.

Often, it is difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-800 UZ and GM1.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SP-800 UZ due to its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Panasonic GM1 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged SP-800 UZ will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.