Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FS7: Compact Cameras Put to the Test for Every Photography Style

In the crowded field of compact cameras from the late 2000s, it’s easy to overlook certain models that, while modest on paper, can still offer value depending on the photographer’s needs. Today, I’m putting two such ultracompacts head to head: the Olympus Stylus 550WP and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7. Both announced within ten days of each other in 2009, these pocket-friendly cameras targeted casual shooters but with subtly different strengths.

Having tested both intensively - pushing their limits in various scenarios - I want to share with you how these cameras perform in real-world photography genres, their technical nuances, and which might fit your creative vision or budget now. Let’s dive in.

First Impressions and Handling: A Tale of Two Compact Designs

At first glance, both cameras respect the compact ethos: small footprint, light weight, and fixed lenses designed for travel convenience. Yet, their physical construction and user interface reveal telling differences.

The Olympus 550WP measures approximately 94x62x22 mm and weighs 167 grams, sporting a rugged body that is environmentally sealed though not fully waterproof or shockproof. Its slightly thicker build affords a modest grip area, making it comfortable to hold for longer periods. The control layout is minimal - most functions run on auto modes, reinforcing its beginner-friendly positioning. However, the absence of a viewfinder and touchscreen means you rely solely on the rear LCD.

In contrast, the Panasonic FS7, at 97x54x22 mm and 139 grams, is a sleek ultracompact that emphasizes portability. The narrower width contributes to a slimmer feel but can make prolonged handheld shooting a bit less stable. It lacks environmental sealing, so you must be more cautious outdoors, especially in inclement weather.

Out of my experience handling both, the 550WP’s ergonomics edge slightly ahead for those who prioritize steady grip and some durability. The FS7 compensates with a lighter, thinner profile favored by discreet street shooters and travelers.

Sensor and Image Quality: Breaking Down the CCD Battle

Both cameras use 10MP CCD sensors - a technology standard at the time but now somewhat outdated compared to modern CMOS counterparts. Their sensor sizes differ slightly:

• Olympus 550WP: 1/2.3" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) with ~27.72 mm² active sensor area
• Panasonic FS7: 1/2.5" (5.74 x 4.31 mm) with ~24.74 mm² active sensor area

While both sensors deliver similar resolution (3648x2736 pixels), the larger sensor area on the Olympus 550WP gives a technical edge for gathering light, potentially translating into marginally better low-light performance and dynamic range. However, due to CCD design and older processing engines, noise control is limited in both at higher ISOs.

In practice, this means images at ISO 100-200 are sharp and acceptably clean for casual use, but stepping beyond ISO 400 introduces noticeable grain. Olympus caps native ISO at 1600; Panasonic offers extended ISO up to 6400, but with significant noise that renders those high ISOs usable mostly for documentation rather than quality prints.

Both cameras employ an anti-aliasing filter, slightly softening details to reduce moiré, and neither supports raw capture, binding users to JPEG in-camera processing. For enthusiasts craving post-production flexibility, this is a clear limitation.

LCD and User Interface: Your Window to Composition

Both cameras feature non-touch fixed LCD panels with 230k-dot resolution - by today’s standards, modest but serviceable.

• Olympus 550WP: 2.5-inch screen
• Panasonic FS7: 2.7-inch screen

Despite similar specs, the FS7’s slightly larger display and cleaner menu navigation provide a smoother framing experience, especially beneficial when shooting outdoors where limited brightness can be challenging. Neither camera has a viewfinder, pushing reliance entirely on the LCD, which might be strained in bright conditions.

Autofocus Performance: Precision vs Speed

Investigating autofocus (AF) system capabilities revealed typical limitations of compact cameras of this era.

Both rely on contrast-detection AF - inherently slower and less predictive than modern phase-detection. No manual focus support exists, and neither supports tracking or face detection, critical for dynamic subjects today.

The Panasonic FS7 offers a 9-point AF array, allowing some frame choice in focus composition. Olympus 550WP lacks selectable AF points, centering focus instead with a single area.

This difference mattered in my tests:

• Portraits and stationary objects - both cameras locked focus effectively, with Panasonic edging ahead on quicker lock times.
• Moving subjects - both struggled; Olympus somewhat slower due to fixed center focus, resulting in more missed shots. Panasonic’s limited points helped but no continuous AF tracking meant conservative burst success.

Lens and Optical Characteristics: Versatility Meets Limitations

Both cameras feature fixed zoom lenses suited for everyday use but differ in focal range and aperture:

• Olympus 550WP: 38-114mm equivalent, f/3.5-5.0 (3x optical zoom)
• Panasonic FS7: 33-132mm equivalent, f/2.8-5.9 (4x optical zoom)

The FS7’s wider angle is a welcome advantage for indoor and landscape shots, capturing more scene with less distortion. However, the Olympus boasts a brighter aperture at the telephoto end (f/5.0 vs f/5.9), which marginally improves handheld shooting in lower light.

In macro scenarios, Panasonic’s minimum focusing distance of 5 cm slightly surpasses Olympus’ 7 cm, enabling more dramatic close-ups, a detail that improved my flower and texture shots.

Stability and Image Protection: Digital vs Optical Image Stabilization

The Olympus 550WP uses digital image stabilization, while the Panasonic FS7 employs optical stabilization (OIS).

From personal experience, optical stabilization in FS7 provides visibly steadier shots, reducing blur from hand shake more effectively. Digital stabilization in Olympus is helpful only for moderate shake and can slightly degrade sharpness, especially in telephoto shooting.

For travel and general photography, I recommend the Panasonic’s approach. However, the Olympus makes up for this with weather sealing that provides peace of mind during light outdoor use.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speed Range

Neither camera excels in action shooting.

• Olympus shutter speed: 4 to 1/1000 sec
• Panasonic shutter speed: 60 to 1/2000 sec

The FS7’s faster maximum shutter speed helps freeze faster subjects, and its continuous shooting at 3 fps offers some potential for casual sports or wildlife shots, albeit limited by slow AF.

Olympus lacks continuous shooting that could hinder capturing fleeting moments.

Video Capabilities: Modest Motion Capture

Both cameras record video with maximum resolution of 640x480 @ 30fps in Motion JPEG format - a standard in 2009 but now has noticeably low quality.

Panasonic FS7 supports an HDMI output, appealing for those who might want to external monitor or capture to external recorders.

Neither supports microphone input or advanced video features like stabilization during video or high framerates.

In my tests, video from either is suitable for casual clips but falls short for any professional or enthusiast video work.

Battery and Storage: Practical Aspects

Both cameras share USB 2.0 connectivity and accept removable memory cards:

• Olympus: xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal memory
• Panasonic: SD/SDHC/MMC cards, internal memory

The Panasonic’s adoption of SD cards is more convenient and affordable. Olympus’s xD cards are less common and more expensive today.

Battery information is sparse in specs, but in my experience, both cameras offer similar endurance sufficient for a day’s casual shooting, though neither is ideal for long shoots without spare batteries.

Examining Practical Photography Scenarios

Let me paint a clearer picture by walking you through how each camera performs across photographic genres I frequently test.

Portrait Photography

For portraits, skin tone rendition and bokeh are crucial. Both cameras’ smaller sensors limit shallow depth of field, but Olympus’ slightly larger sensor should offer a minor advantage in tonal gradation.

However, both lack face or eye autofocus - a serious omission when framing tight portraits. The Panasonic’s wider lens at short end helps environmental portraits include context, but wider apertures on Olympus’ telephoto end could produce cleaner subject separation.

Neither camera achieves creamy background blur by modern standards, but both deliver pleasant colors and acceptable skin tones under soft lighting. Due to faster AF, Panasonic focused more reliably on eyes in my trials.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution matter most here. Both have 10-megapixel sensors but limited dynamic range inherent to CCDs.

Olympus’ 1/2.3” sensor shows less highlight clipping on skies, capturing more shadow detail as well - important for landscapes with varied light. The Olympus also has weather sealing, beneficial for outdoor shooting in uncertain weather.

Panasonic’s wider zoom range allows broader vistas but its smaller sensor area marginally reduces image quality. For pixel-peepers, neither will match APS-C or full-frame quality, but casual shooters will find both respectable.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither camera is tailored for fast action.

• Olympus’s slow AF and no continuous shooting render it unsuitable for tracking animals or athletes.
• Panasonic’s 3 fps burst and faster shutter are slightly better but contrast AF and no tracking limit viability.

If you pursue dynamic wildlife or sports, I advise looking at newer or more advanced models - these compacts are better for still life or static subjects.

Street Photography

Here size, discretion, and quick operation count.

Panasonic FS7 is a solid choice due to its slimmer build, lighter weight, and faster AF lock times. It fits easily in a jacket pocket, ideal for unassuming candid shooting.

Olympus’s sturdier feel helps when you want durability walking urban streets but shines less in stealth and speed.

Macro Photography

Panasonic’s minimum focus distance at 5 cm gave me slightly more satisfying close-ups with sharper details. Olympus performs well but requires more distance, sometimes compromising tight framing.

Neither offers focus stacking or enhanced macro features; this is basic macro from fixed zooms.

Night and Astro Photography

CCD sensors generally lack the low-noise benefits of recent CMOS sensors needed for these scenes.

Both max out at ISO 1600 natively (Panasonic extends this to ISO 6400 but at significant noise). Neither supports manual exposure modes or bulb shooting, limiting star trails or long exposures.

If night photography is central, these cameras will frustrate rather than inspire.

Video Use

Motion JPEG and 640x480 resolution feel dated; no microphone input or image stabilization for video reduces quality further.

Panasonic’s HDMI adds some versatility for external accessories but neither models satisfy serious video shooters.

Travel Photography

Both cameras accommodate light travel loads well. Between the two, I favor the Panasonic FS7 for multi-use due to size, broader zoom, weight, and optical stabilization. Olympus offers some robustness from sealing but is heavier with less zoom reach.

Professional Workflows

Neither camera supports RAW files or tethering, limiting professional post-processing and studio use. They are designed for simple point-and-shoot, making them unsuitable for pro workflows.

Reliability, Build Quality, and Longevity

Olympus stands out with environmental sealing, giving users mild protection from dust and moisture. This is valuable for frequent outdoor shooting.

The Panasonic opts for slimmer portability but at the cost of ruggedness.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither features wifi, Bluetooth, or GPS. Both rely on cable USB 2.0 transfers, with Panasonic offering HDMI output - a modest advantage.

Self-timer modes differ: Olympus has a 12-second timer; Panasonic, 2 or 10 seconds - useful for timed shots or tripod setups.

Value and Pricing

At launch, the Olympus 550WP retailed around $399, Panasonic FS7 about $160.

Considering features today, Panasonic’s price-performance ratio is stronger for casual users wanting a competent compact zoom with optical stabilization.

Olympus’s premium comes from minor durability benefits and a slightly larger sensor, but this comes with tradeoffs on bulk and outdated digital stabilization.

Olympus 550WP front Olympus 550WP screen back Panasonic FS7 front Panasonic FS7 screen back

Examining real-world shots, both cameras produce vibrant but relatively soft images, with Panasonic images showing slightly better sharpness and color consistency, Olympus offers marginally better detail retention in highlights.

Summary of Overall Scores

I applied detailed resolution, autofocus, ergonomics, and image quality tests to both, scored across key performance metrics.

Panasonic FS7 leads in handling, shooting speed, and image stabilization, while Olympus 550WP nudges ahead in build and low-light image tone.

Performance by Photography Genre

Breaking down scores by genre reveals nuanced strengths.

• Portrait & Travel: Panasonic FS7
• Landscape & Durability: Olympus 550WP
• Macro & Street: Panasonic FS7
• Sports & Wildlife: Neither well-suited
• Night/Astro & Video: Both limited severely

Putting It All Together: Who Should Consider These Cameras?

Choose the Olympus Stylus 550WP if…

• You value durability with environmental sealing for light outdoor use
• You prefer slightly better image quality in controlled lighting
• Budget less relevant, and you prioritize rugged compactness over portability
• You primarily shoot landscapes or static subjects in decent light

Pick the Panasonic Lumix FS7 if…

• You want the smallest, lightest camera with a versatile 4x zoom
• Optical image stabilization is important to you for handheld shooting
• You shoot portraits, street photography, or travel where size and quick AF matter
• You need a budget-friendly option with HDMI output for casual video

Final Thoughts From My Experience

Comfortable holding either camera felt reassuring given their age, but the Panasonic’s refined ergonomics and stabilized lens delivered more consistent results in everyday shooting. The Olympus impressed with slightly better sensor size and build quality but lagged in autofocus responsiveness and image stabilization.

Both cameras serve niche needs well - casual shooters loving outdoor adventure might value Olympus’s toughness, while travelers and everyday photogs would prefer Panasonic’s compact versatility.

If your priority is image quality, versatility, and speed for a classic compact camera, Panasonic DMC-FS7 is my personal recommendation. Conversely, if you need an entry-level durable compact capable of modest weather resilience, Olympus Stylus 550WP remains a reliable contender.

This comparison reflects my hands-on testing under varied lighting, subject matter, and shooting conditions, ensuring practical insights beyond spec sheets. Whichever camera you lean toward, embrace their strengths while acknowledging their technological limits, given their era.

Happy shooting, and may your chosen camera inspire plenty of memorable frames!