Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic FX78, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the 550WP (10MP) and the FX78 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was announced 24 months before the FX78 making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the 550WP scores against the FX78 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus 550WP & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus 550WP Gallery & Panasonic FX78 Gallery.

If you're going to carry around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus 550WP has outside measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Panasonic FX78 has specifications of 100mm x 55mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic FX78 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the 550WP against the FX78.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 550WP and FX78 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at a spec sheet. The image underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the 550WP and FX78.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic FX78 to give you more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged 550WP is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.