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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed July 2011
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-11 versus Panasonic FH20, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is pretty close and they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-11 was manufactured 19 months after the FH20 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SZ-11 matches up against the FH20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Panasonic FH20

 SZ-11 FH20 
ReleasedJuly 2011January 2010More modern by 19 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus SZ-11

 FH20 SZ-11 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Panasonic FH20

 SZ-11 FH20 
Manual focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-11 features physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FH20 has sizing of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-11 versus Panasonic FH20 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the SZ-11 compared to the FH20.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-11 and FH20 is 89 and 93 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes just by viewing technical specs. The picture here may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-11 and FH20.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact MP so you should expect comparable quality of photos however you should really take the production date of the cameras into account. The younger SZ-11 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography info
33
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
28
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography features
Panasonic FH20 Street photography features
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-11
Sports photography with Panasonic FH20
43
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography info
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography info
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
64
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography information
40
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
37
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging features
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging features
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detection focus
lighter than competition (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
28
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus SZ-11Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-07-27 2010-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" 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 200 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $253 $179