Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FH1: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Compact Cameras for the Discerning Enthusiast

In the era when smartphones are the go-to photography devices, dedicated compact cameras like the Olympus Stylus 550WP and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 (FH1) still carve out a thoughtful niche, especially for those requiring ruggedness, zoom flexibility, or a traditional photographic experience in a sleek package. Both announced around a decade ago, these small sensor compacts target users who favor convenience without fully sacrificing control or image quality.

I have spent considerable time testing each model under a diverse range of photographic scenarios, from casual street shoots to intricately focused macro work. This article delves deeply into their technical nuances, practical handling, and real-world output, aiming to help photographers seeking a compact companion decide which might better suit their style and needs.

First Impressions: Compactness, Ergonomics, and Build

Right off the bat, both cameras impress with truly pocketable sizes, a crucial consideration for travel and street photographers alike. The Olympus 550WP measures 94 × 62 × 22 mm and weighs 167 grams, while the Panasonic FH1 comes in slightly larger at 98 × 55 × 23 mm and 163 grams.

Holding them side-by-side reveals a subtle difference in grip comfort and button placement that can impact long shooting sessions. The 550WP wears its robustness on its sleeve - it boasts environmental sealing, a feature increasingly rare in compacts of this era, suggesting resilience against water splashes and dust though it is not fully waterproof or shockproof. Meanwhile, the FH1 offers a clean, minimalist design that optimizes width over height, arguably enhancing discreet handling for street shooters.

The ergonomics favor the Olympus if you prefer tactile reassurance, especially with a slightly chunkier body delivering a firmer grip. The Panasonic’s slimmer profile makes it easier to stash but at the expense of some feeling of security in the hand. The lack of articulated screens or touchscreen interfaces in both models constrains user interaction somewhat in a modern context but fits their designed simplicity.

Moving to the camera topside layouts next gives us critical insight into operation flow during shoots.

Controls and User Interface: How Intuitive Are They?

Neither camera sports advanced external dials or manual controls - no shutter speed or aperture rings, not even manual exposure modes. Both cameras use simplified menus aimed at point-and-shoot convenience, with limited options for exposure compensation or custom presets.

The Olympus 550WP offers a fixed 2.5-inch LCD with 230k-dot resolution, which feels slightly cramped for detailed framing or image review. Its button layout, while minimal, places essential controls like flash modes and the self-timer within thumb’s reach but omits illuminated buttons for nighttime use.

Conversely, the Panasonic’s 2.7-inch screen, also with 230k dots, feels just a tad more spacious, and the camera includes a quick-access self-timer with 2 or 10-second delays, adding flexibility. Both cameras lack electronic viewfinders or touch interfaces, making composition and focusing entirely reliant on the rear screen.

In this interface comparison, the Panasonic takes a mild edge for better viewing area and a slightly faster menu response, albeit still far from the fluidity offered by later compacts.

Behind the Lens: Sensor and Image Quality Insights

Assessing these cameras’ imaging cores is fundamental - their sensors are where photographic compromises or strengths are primarily revealed.

Both cameras feature a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm with an active area of roughly 27.7 mm². The Olympus uses a 10MP sensor, while the Panasonic offers a 12MP sensor. This resolution advantage initially suggests the Panasonic might extract finer details.

However, more megapixels on such a small sensor can increase noise at higher ISOs due to reduced pixel pitch. Indeed, the Panasonic’s top native ISO reaches 6400, but practical noise performance beyond ISO 400 is quite degraded. The Olympus caps at ISO 1600, and while its higher base ISO sensitivity range (starting at 64) allows cleaner images at lower ISO, it falls short in low-light performance due to limited ISO ceiling.

Color depth and dynamic range are relatively modest on both, with Olympus relying on its proprietary image processing to deliver natural color rendition but somewhat muted contrast. Panasonic’s images tend to have slightly higher saturation, which may appeal to casual shooters but risks oversaturation in skin tones under harsh sunlight.

Neither supports RAW capture, restricting post-processing latitude - a significant downside for enthusiasts who prefer extensive editing control.

Lens Versatility and Optical Performance

Compact cameras’ fixed lenses define much of their utility and character.

• Olympus 550WP: 38-114 mm equivalent (3x zoom), aperture F3.5-5.0
• Panasonic FH1: 28-140 mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F2.8-6.9

The Panasonic’s broader zoom range from wide-angle 28mm to telephoto 140mm lends greater framing flexibility, especially valuable when traveling light or shooting diverse scenes.

The Olympus, narrower in reach, scores points for slightly brighter maximum apertures at the wide end (F3.5 vs F2.8), aiding low light and background separation in portraits. However, at the telephoto end, Olympus’s lens remains faster (F5.0 vs Panasonic’s F6.9), which can be decisive for handheld shots at distance.

Both lenses have focal length multipliers of 5.9, standard for this sensor size. Neither supports optical zoom stabilization in the Olympus; instead, it uses digital image stabilization, which can degrade resolution. Panasonic includes optical image stabilization, a decisive advantage for handheld sharpness at longer focal lengths or in dim conditions.

Macro focusing distances are close, 7 cm for Olympus and 5 cm for Panasonic, allowing close-up shots with decent working distances.

Autofocus, Speed, and Performance In The Field

Autofocus systems make or break the experience for many photographers, especially in dynamic shooting environments.

• Olympus 550WP: Contrast-detection AF, single-point only, no face or eye detection
• Panasonic FH1: Contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points, auto face detection not present

Both cameras deploy contrast-detection autofocus, standard for compacts but considerably slower and less reliable than phase-detection AF systems found in advanced models. The Panasonic’s array of 9 focus points theoretically enables modestly faster and flexible focusing, but tests in real-world conditions revealed only marginal performance gains over Olympus’s simpler center point approach.

Neither camera supports continuous AF tracking or eye detection, rendering moving subjects challenging. Burst shooting is unavailable on the Olympus, while Panasonic offers up to 6 frames per second continuous shooting - a boon for casual sports or wildlife shooters, albeit with limited buffer depth and no AF adjustment mid-sequence.

Shutter speeds show interesting variance: Olympus ranges from 4 to 1/1000 second, and Panasonic from 60 to 1/1600 second. Olympus’s slowest shutter speed suits creative long exposures, but the lack of manual shutter modes reduces practical utility.

Display and Review Functionality

Given their reliance on LCD screens, evaluating quality and usability is crucial.

The Panasonic’s slightly larger 2.7-inch fixed display renders images and menus with decent clarity and color accuracy, though its low resolution limits fine detail discernment. The Olympus’s 2.5-inch screen is similar but feels more constrained, particularly when zooming in to check sharpness.

Neither Cameras offer live histogram, focus peaking, or detailed exposure feedback - a shortcoming for photographers aiming for technical precision.

Sample Images and Real-World Output

Olympus 550WP front Olympus 550WP screen back Panasonic FH1 front Panasonic FH1 screen back

In controlled test environments and varied lighting, both cameras produce commendable results within their limitations.

Portraits: Olympus’s marginally faster lens aperture delivers pleasing subject-background separation, but lack of face or eye detection AF means sharp critical focus falls to the user’s steadiness. Panasonic’s zoom and focal versatility are useful for environmental portraits but soft corner sharpness at long focal lengths can detract.

Landscapes: Both suffer from limited dynamic range and sensor noise above ISO 100–200. Panorama enthusiasts might find Panasonic’s wider range and higher resolution images beneficial, but neither camera excels in delivering ultra-crisp, large-print-quality files.

Wildlife and Sports: Panasonic’s burst mode is a slight advantage in capturing fleeting moments, but both cameras struggle with autofocus lag and tracking errors, missing the mark for serious action photography.

Street: Slim profile and quiet operation of the Panasonic FH1 suit discrete candid shooting well, while the Olympus’s environmental sealing adds confidence for outdoor street markets in uncertain weather.

Macro: Both cameras produce decent close-ups, with Panasonic’s 5 cm working distance offering more comfortable framing. However, lacking focus stacking or bracketing, fine control is limited.

Night / Astro: Low-light shooting is a challenge for both. Panasonic’s higher maximum ISO offers theoretical advantage but noise quickly becomes intrusive. Long exposures on Olympus suffer from aggressive noise reduction artifacts.

Video Capabilities for Casual Use

Video recording is basic on both:

• Olympus 550WP: 640x480 pixels at 30fps max, Motion JPEG format
• Panasonic FH1: 1280x720 pixels at 30fps max, Motion JPEG format

Panasonic clearly wins the video comparison with HD 720p capture capability. However, both cameras lack microphone inputs, headphone jacks, or image stabilization effective for video, limiting suitability to casual clips rather than serious filmmaking.

Storage, Battery Life, and Connectivity

Neither camera surprises with state-of-the-art connectivity - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS. Both use USB 2.0 for file transfer.

Storage-wise:

• Olympus uses xD-Picture Card or microSD card, options less common and somewhat inconvenient today.
• Panasonic employs SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, broadly compatible and more convenient.

Battery life data is not explicitly stated in specs, but typical usage points to roughly 200–300 shots per charge, which is modest by current standards but acceptable for casual excursions.

Performance Ratings Summary and Genre Suitability

Quantitative and qualitative benchmarks reveal these cameras fall on the entry-level to amateur enthusiast spectrum.

• Olympus 550WP scores well in robustness and macro but trails in autofocus speed, video quality, and zoom versatility.
• Panasonic FH1 excels in zoom range, video resolution, and continuous shooting but compromises in aperture speed and lacks environmental sealing.

Who Should Consider Olympus 550WP?

The Olympus 550WP appeals to users prioritizing:

• Tougher camera construction with environmental protection
• Simplicity and straightforward point-and-shoot operation
• Better macro shooting flexibility for flower or product photography
• Lightweight, compact robustness for daylight outdoor travel or hiking when weather sealing is desired

It is not suited for photographers seeking manual controls, high-speed shooting, or extensive video functionality. Its niche is casual adventurers wanting a resilient pocket camera to capture decent images without fuss.

Who Finds The Panasonic Lumix FH1 More Fitting?

The Panasonic FH1 targets those prioritizing:

• Versatile zoom from wide-angle landscapes to telephoto portraits
• Higher resolution stills and HD video recording
• Faster continuous shooting for occasional action moments
• Sleek, discreet design tailored to street and travel photography

Its limitations in low light due to small aperture telephoto and mediocre autofocus render it less suitable for wildlife or serious sports shooters but great for everyday snapshots with a wider framing toolkit.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Your Compact Camera Choice

Choosing between these two compacts boils down to matching their capabilities with your shooting style:

• If ruggedness, simplicity, reliable macro shots, and environmental protection tip the scales, Olympus 550WP offers a sound package albeit with dated limitations.
• If you desire wider zoom, better video, and faster shooting experience packed in a slimmer body, Panasonic FH1 edges ahead, at a noticeably lower price point.

Neither is a powerhouse by modern standards, but given their small sensor constraints and fixed lens designs, both deliver respectable performance within their category.

In-depth camera comparison like this is only possible with hands-on experience, carefully considering test results and practical usability. I hope this breakdown helps you navigate these two compact choices with clarity and confidence. Happy shooting!