Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5: A Thorough Head-to-Head for Serious Photographers

When it comes to compact cameras, the balance between portability, optical versatility, and image quality is key - especially if you’re a photography enthusiast or professional who needs something more travel-friendly without sacrificing control. The Olympus SP-800 UZ and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 represent two different but compelling approaches from the 2010-2011 era, targeting users who want fairly advanced features in a compact body.

Having spent extensive hands-on time testing each camera on a variety of shoots - from landscapes on remote trails to quick street captures and detailed macros - I’m confident this deep comparison will help you decide which compact camera best suits your creative ambitions. We’ll dive into sensor tech, lens performance, ergonomics, autofocus, and practical results across key photography genres, all backed by technical assessment and real-world experience. Let’s get started!

How They Size Up: Handling and Build

At first glance, the Olympus SP-800 UZ is noticeably bulkier and heavier than the Panasonic LX5, weighing 455g versus 271g on the Panasonic, and sporting deeper physical dimensions (110x90x91mm vs 110x65x43mm). Olympus’s larger footprint accommodates a monstrous 30x zoom lens (28–840mm equivalent), which gives it amazing reach but affects its pocketability.

The LX5, meanwhile, is a more traditional compact with a maximum zoom of 3.8x (24–90mm equivalent) but an impressively bright lens (f/2.0–3.3) for added light-gathering. It’s ideal if you prioritize portability, wanting a camera that fits easily in jacket pockets or smaller bags.

Ergonomics and Handling:

• The SP-800 UZ’s larger size affords a substantial grip, making extended telephoto shots more stable without accessories, and its command placement is straightforward.
• The LX5’s compactness means handling can feel a little cramped for larger hands, but the button layout is well-thought-out for one-handed operation.

If your shooting habits include long zoom (especially wildlife or distant subjects), the Olympus is physically more capable. For street and travel photographers valuing discreetness and quick deployment, the LX5 has the edge.

Design and Controls: Where Workflow Begins

Looking at the top-down view, you’ll notice the Olympus has fewer manual controls - no dedicated manual focus ring, no exposure modes like aperture or shutter priority, or manual exposure mode at all. It’s aimed partly at enthusiasts who want simple point-and-shoot ease despite advanced zoom reach. The shutter button and zoom rocker are large and intuitive, but other adjustments rely heavily on menus.

Contrast this with the Panasonic LX5, which offers full manual exposure controls - aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual. It includes a true manual focus ring on the lens barrel, which is a joy for those used to fine focusing control, especially in macro or portrait work. Exposure compensation is onboard, plus custom white balance, meeting professional expectations.

In practical shooting scenarios, I found the LX5’s controls a big step forward in adaptability, allowing rapid changes without diving into menus. The Olympus, while capable, occasionally required “hunt and peck” navigation on its menu system when shooting in challenging light or trying to tweak parameters.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

Image quality is naturally a decisive factor. Despite both cameras using CCD sensors, they differ significantly:

• Olympus SP-800 UZ:

  • Sensor size: 1/2.3-inch (6.17x4.55mm), roughly 28.07mm²
  • Resolution: 14 MP
  • ISO: 64-3200 (no RAW support)
  • Processing: TruePic III engine

• Panasonic LX5:

  • Sensor size: 1/1.63-inch (8.07x5.56mm), approximately 44.87mm²
  • Resolution: 10 MP
  • ISO: 80-12800 (RAW support)
  • Processing: Venus Engine FHD

The LX5’s sensor is nearly 1.6 times larger in surface area, which translates to better low-light sensitivity, less noise, and wider dynamic range. It also supports RAW capture - critical for professional post-processing flexibility, which the Olympus lacks entirely.

From my side-by-side tests in daylight and indoor conditions, the LX5 consistently provided cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, with less grain and better shadow detail. The Olympus can produce sharp photos at base ISO but quickly falls off in high ISO usability. Its high 14MP count, while impressive on paper, results in noticeably noisier images at higher sensitivities.

Regarding color fidelity, the LX5’s processing engine delivers richer but realistic tones, lending itself better to portrait and landscape work out of the camera. Olympus colors lean toward a cooler palette and occasionally require extra editing to match professional color standards.

Evaluating the Rear Interface: Screen and Viewfinder

Both cameras feature a fixed 3-inch LCD, but the Panasonic LX5 has a sharper, higher-resolution screen at 460k dots versus the Olympus’s 230k dots. This difference means framing, reviewing focus sharpness, and judging exposure is easier on the LX5 in varying light conditions.

Neither camera has built-in electronic viewfinders, but Panasonic offers an optional external EVF - a welcome accessory for bright outdoor shooting or precise composition. Olympus doesn’t offer any EVF accessory.

In my experience, the Olympus’s screen sometimes felt too dim outdoors, especially when composing shots using its very long zoom. Conversely, the LX5’s display brightness and resolution made it easier to nail focus and exposure on critical shots.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy Matters

Both cameras employ contrast-detection autofocus, but implementation differs:

• Olympus SP-800 UZ:

  • 143 focus points
  • Single AF mode only
  • No continuous AF
  • Face detection not available

• Panasonic LX5:

  • 23 focus points
  • Single AF only (no continuous)
  • No face detection
  • Manual focus ring for precision

In practical shooting, Olympus’s higher number of AF points may sound promising but proved inconsistent - especially at full zoom, focusing lag and hunt became evident. The lack of manual focus made it tricky to acquire focus manually on subjects with low contrast.

The LX5 offered quicker lock-on in bright scenes and precise focusing thanks to the manual focus ring. Macro photographers appreciated being able to fine-tune without relying solely on AF.

Neither camera supports face detection or animal eye AF, features which modern cameras use to improve portrait or wildlife photography accuracy. So in this category, Panasonic’s more refined AF experience combined with manual focus strongly outperforms the Olympus, especially for critical focus work.

Optical Versatility: Lenses and Zoom Range

The Olympus SP-800 UZ’s headline feature is the 30x optical zoom (28–840mm equivalent), making it an outright beast for wildlife and sports shooters who need reach from a compact package. The aperture range is f/2.8–5.6 - respectable wide open but a bit limiting by 840mm telephoto, where aperture drops to around f/5.6.

The Panasonic LX5 has a brighter lens: 24–90mm equivalent at f/2.0–3.3, which excels in low light and portraits with shallow depth of field. Its optical zoom is much shorter at just under 4x, prioritizing sharpness over reach.

From my fieldwork:

• Olympus’s zoom enabled me to photograph distant birds and far-off events without an adapter. While image stabilization helped, optical quality at extreme telephoto showed softness and chromatic aberration.
• Panasonic’s lens optics are very sharp and produce excellent bokeh - noticeably more creaminess rendering backgrounds for portraiture and macros than the Olympus.

So if your work leans toward wildlife or distant subjects, Olympus wins for range. If your emphasis is on wide aperture, subject isolation, and image quality, Panasonic’s lens is far more satisfying.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Range

Both cameras offer image stabilization but employ different technologies:

• Olympus: Sensor-shift stabilization
• Panasonic: Optical image stabilization

In practical use, I found the Panasonic’s optical stabilization reduced handshake noticeably better during handheld shots at slower shutter speeds or in lower light. Its system felt more responsive for video as well.

Shutter speeds:

• Olympus: 12 seconds to 1/2000s
• Panasonic: 60 seconds to 1/4000s

The LX5’s longer maximum shutter time introduces creative exposure possibilities (longer trails, night scenes) the Olympus cannot match. The higher max shutter speed helps with bright-light shooting and action freezing.

Video Capabilities: Basic Yet Useful

Both cameras shoot HD video at 1280x720p resolution but with notable format differences:

• Olympus: H.264, 30 fps max, lacks microphone input
• Panasonic: AVCHD Lite, 60/30 fps, no mic input

The LX5 offers smoother 60fps capture for moderate movement, better stabilization in video, and a slightly larger sensor for improved low-light video performance. Neither camera is designed as a robust video tool, but the LX5’s AVCHD Lite codec and 60fps mode give it a modest edge.

Battery Life and Storage Practicalities

While official battery life stats are scarce for both, real-world use suggests:

• Olympus SP-800 UZ’s Li-50B battery typically delivers around 300 shots per charge.
• Panasonic LX5’s battery is rated for about 210 shots but generally lasts longer in practice given smaller sensor and efficient processor.

Both take SD/SDHC cards in a single slot. The LX5 extends compatibility to SDXC cards for larger capacities - useful if you shoot RAW or HD video.

Specialized Shooting Genres: Which Camera Excels?

Olympus SP 800 UZ front Olympus SP 800 UZ screen back Panasonic LX5 front Panasonic LX5 screen back

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic’s brighter lens and RAW capability deliver better skin tone grading and flattering bokeh.
• Olympus lacks manual exposure control and RAW, limiting editing finesse.
• No face/eye AF in either, but manual focussing on LX5 favors portraits.

Landscape and Travel

• Panasonic’s sensor and dynamic range (DXO: 10.8) yield richer detail and wider color gamut.
• Olympus’s zoom less useful here; overall image quality lags.
• LX5 more compact and weather sealing is absent on both.

Wildlife and Sports

• Olympus’s 30x zoom dominates here - reaching distant subjects.
• Autofocus and image stabilization fall short for fast-moving subjects.
• LX5 limited zoom and slower burst shooting constrain this use case.

Street Photography

• Panasonic’s small body, quick manual controls, and bright lens are ideal.
• Olympus too bulky and menu-dependent for spontaneous shots.

Macro Photography

• Both offer 1cm macro focusing.
• Panasonic’s manual focus ring and larger sensor give more creative control and sharper images.

Night and Astro

• LX5’s ISO range and longer shutter speeds make it more versatile.
• Olympus’s high ISO noise and shutter limits impede night photography.

Scoring the Cameras Overall and by Genre

The Panasonic Lumix LX5 scores higher on image quality, control, and versatility - reflecting in stronger ratings across most photographic genres except telephoto-heavy wildlife and sports where Olympus’s zoom boosts its score.

Lens Ecosystem and Connectivity

Neither camera supports interchangeable lenses - both fixed lens models. However:

• Panasonic LX5 supports external flashes via hot shoe, adding flexibility.
• Olympus SP-800 UZ lacks flash hot shoe; only built-in flash.
• Neither offers wireless connectivity or GPS built-in.

For tethered workflows or advanced lighting, LX5’s options improve professional integration marginally.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

Why You Might Choose the Olympus SP-800 UZ:

• You crave an ultra-zoom travel camera capable of shooting distant wildlife or events without extra lenses.
• You prefer straightforward buttons and automated shooting in a compact with better handholding on heavy zoom.
• Your budget is limited, and video, RAW, or manual exposure are not priorities.

Why the Panasonic Lumix LX5 Is Probably a Better Buy for Most:

• You want better image quality with a larger sensor and RAW shooting for editable files.
• Superior manual controls including aperture/shutter priority and true manual focus.
• A brighter lens for portraits and low light, plus more versatile video options.
• Travel and street photographers who need an agile, pocketable camera with pro-level control.

Summary: Practical Takeaways for Different Users

My Testing Methodology and Trustworthiness

As someone who has tested thousands of cameras spanning decades of professional photography, I rely on a mix of standardized lab tests and extensive field shooting under varied conditions. Image quality comparisons use controlled charts and real-world scenes reviewed on calibrated monitors. Autofocus and ergonomics assessments come from timed usability tests and side-by-side comparisons on location shoots.

Neither camera is new tech, but the hands-on experience gleaned remains valid for understanding their practical capabilities in today’s context. I strive to offer transparent, balanced guidance that helps buyers pick the right tool - not just the popular model.

Closing Thoughts

Both the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 offer unique advantages inside compact bodies. Olympus is the strong-man ultra-zoom champion perfect for faraway action, while Panasonic brings a more refined, image-quality focused package with manual controls that please enthusiasts and pros.

Ultimately, your choice comes down to what matters most - zoom reach or control and quality. Whether you want to capture a soaring eagle or your next travel portrait, understanding these strengths will make sure you’re buying the best camera for your needs.

Happy shooting!

Please note: While these models are a decade old and newer options exist today, the principles covered here demonstrate core tradeoffs that compact cameras face still and offer useful lessons for camera buyers everywhere.