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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 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
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic FP8
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 96 x 60 x 20mm
  • Introduced July 2009
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 Overview

Here is a extended overview of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and FP8 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was brought out 3 years later than the FP8 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-16 iHS grades versus the FP8 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic FP8

 SZ-16 iHS FP8 
IntroducedJanuary 2013July 2009Fresher by 43 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 FP8 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FP8

 SZ-16 iHS FP8 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has outside dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FP8 has dimensions of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the FP8.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and FP8 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by going through specs. The visual underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-16 iHS and FP8.

All in all, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to produce more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern SZ-16 iHS will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography information
Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography information
35
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
21
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography info
Panasonic FP8 Street photography info
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average (151 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography information
Panasonic FP8 Sports photography information
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic FP8
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.0)
56
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (151 grams)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography info
Panasonic FP8 Landscape photography info
41
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery life (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
32
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic FP8
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
28
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than average (151g)
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FP8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FP8
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FP8
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2013-01-08 2009-07-27
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-128mm (4.6x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 151 grams (0.33 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $230 $300