Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FX580

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FX580, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and FX580 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was revealed 4 years after the FX580 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up against the FX580 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-16 iHS Gallery and Panasonic FX580 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has got outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FX580 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FX580 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS against the FX580.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and FX580 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and FX580.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to deliver more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger SZ-16 iHS will have a benefit in sensor tech.