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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Released January 2013
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the FH8 (16MP) is fairly comparable and they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was announced 13 months after the FH8 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the SZ-16 iHS grades versus the FH8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic FH8

 SZ-16 iHS FH8 
IntroducedJanuary 2013January 2012Newer by 13 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 FH8 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FH8

 SZ-16 iHS FH8 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS features outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FH8 has proportions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the FH8.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and FH8 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by going through technical specs. The picture below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and FH8.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact MP therefore you can expect comparable quality of photos but you should always take the launch date of the cameras into account. The fresher SZ-16 iHS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
35
good MP (16MP)
provides face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
34
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography information
Panasonic FH8 Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (123 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography info
Panasonic FH8 Sports photography info
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography advice
Panasonic FH8 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than average (226g)
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
low battery power (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than others in class (123g)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery power (220 shots)
missing Timelapse function
43
decently wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic FH8
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than average (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
33
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than others in class (123g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-01-08 2012-01-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
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 focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
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 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 123 grams (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 shots 260 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $230 $149