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Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
69
Imaging
37
Features
35
Overall
36
Olympus SP-800 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus SP-800 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 3200 (Expand to 1000)
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-840mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 455g - 110 x 90 x 91mm
  • Released February 2010
  • Renewed by Olympus SP-810 UZ
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-800 UZ (14MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SP-800 UZ was released 3 years prior to the ZS20 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SP-800 UZ matches up against the ZS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-800 UZ over the Panasonic ZS20

 SP-800 UZ ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus SP-800 UZ

 ZS20 SP-800 UZ 
AnnouncedApril 2012February 2010Newer by 27 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic ZS20

 SP-800 UZ ZS20 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-800 UZ has physical dimensions of 110mm x 90mm x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") having a weight of 455 grams (1.00 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the SP-800 UZ compared to the ZS20.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-800 UZ and ZS20 is 69 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specs. The picture below should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-800 UZ and ZS20.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you can expect similar quality of files though you should really factor the launch date of the products into consideration. The more aged SP-800 UZ is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography information
28
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
30
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography factors
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features touch focus
lighter than others (206 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography features
47
amazing zoom range (28-840mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
61
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great reach (840mm)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than others (206 grams)
features touch focus
MP count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery (260 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography information
41
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
terrible battery (260 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-800 UZ as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
24
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (206 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic port
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Olympus SP-800 UZ vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-800 UZ and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus SP-800 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SP-800 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2010-02-02 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 1000 -
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 143 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-840mm (30.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 12 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.10 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 455 gr (1.00 lbs) 206 gr (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 90 x 91mm (4.3" x 3.5" x 3.6") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $270 $349