Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic FS12

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Panasonic FS12, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-810 UZ (14MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is pretty well matched and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SP-810 UZ was announced 2 years later than the FS12 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-810 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SP-810 UZ grades against the FS12 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SP-810 UZ and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-810 UZ Gallery and Panasonic FS12 Gallery.

In case you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus SP-810 UZ provides outside measurements of 106mm x 76mm x 74mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 2.9") with a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS12 has specifications of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Panasonic FS12 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the SP-810 UZ and the FS12.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-810 UZ and FS12 is 78 and 95 respectively.

Normally, its hard to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by looking at a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-810 UZ and FS12.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Olympus SP-810 UZ to give you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern SP-810 UZ is going to have an edge in sensor technology.