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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
78
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Olympus SP-810 UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 Key Specs

Olympus SP-810 UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-864mm (F2.9-5.7) lens
  • 413g - 106 x 76 x 74mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus SP-800 UZ
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH2
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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Panasonic GH1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SP-810 UZ (14MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is very comparable but the SP-810 UZ (1/2.3") and GH1 (Four Thirds) have different sensor measurements.

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The SP-810 UZ was manufactured 2 years after the GH1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-810 UZ being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SP-810 UZ scores against the GH1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-810 UZ over the Panasonic GH1

 SP-810 UZ GH1 
AnnouncedJuly 2011July 2009More modern by 25 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus SP-810 UZ

 GH1 SP-810 UZ 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Panasonic GH1

 SP-810 UZ GH1 
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-810 UZ offers physical dimensions of 106mm x 76mm x 74mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 2.9") and a weight of 413 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Panasonic GH1 has sizing of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-810 UZ and Panasonic GH1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the SP-810 UZ against the GH1.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SP-810 UZ and GH1 is 78 and 81 respectively.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes purely by going through specs. The pic underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-810 UZ and GH1.

All in all, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SP-810 UZ featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus SP-810 UZ will provide extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern SP-810 UZ should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Portrait photography camera
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Street photography highlights
Panasonic GH1 Street photography highlights
50
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
72
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Sports photography details
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography details
40
long zoom range (24-864mm 36.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
max fps very slow (0.7 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
32
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (320 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH1 as a Travel photography camera
61
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (864mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
58
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery power (320 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography advice
40
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
low battery power (320 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-810 UZ Vlogging information
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging information
27
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic support
72
screen is selfie friendly
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic jack
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-810 UZ and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus SP-810 UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SP-810 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2011-07-27 2009-07-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ Venus Engine HD
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 273.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 24-864mm (36.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.9-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 1/4 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 0.7fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.20 m 10.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 413 grams (0.91 pounds) 385 grams (0.85 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 76 x 74mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 2.9") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 772
Other
Battery life - 320 images
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model Li-50B -
Self timer Yes (12 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $280 $949