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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
31
Overall
33

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 Key Specs

Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Alternate Name is mju 550WP
Panasonic FX78
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 100 x 55 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX77
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 Overview

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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Panasonic FX78

 550WP FX78 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX78 over the Olympus 550WP

 FX78 550WP 
RevealedJanuary 2011January 2009More modern by 24 months
Display size3.5"2.5"Larger display (+1")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic FX78

 550WP FX78 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 size comparison

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

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP Portrait photography details
Panasonic FX78 Portrait photography details
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
21
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography advice
Panasonic FX78 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proof
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FX78 Sports photography highlights
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proof
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,400s)
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 550WP
Travel photography with Panasonic FX78
55
environment proof
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
56
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX78 as a Landscape photography camera
30
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proof
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual control
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
36
relatively wide (24mm)
very good size screen (3.5")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
manual mode not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus 550WP
Vlogging with Panasonic FX78
25
built in image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no mic port
33
relatively wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic FX78 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Panasonic FX78
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPanasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus 550WP Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78
Otherwise known as mju 550WP Lumix DMC-FX77
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-01-07 2011-01-25
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-114mm (3.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.0 f/2.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 7cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3.5"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1000 seconds 1/1400 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167g (0.37 lb) 142g (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 100 x 55 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 200 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $399 $210