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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 Key Specs

Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Alternate Name is mju 550WP
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Released December 2011
  • Older Model is Panasonic LX3
  • Renewed by Panasonic LX7
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic LX5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the 550WP (10MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is relatively similar but the 550WP (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") possess different sensor dimensions.

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The 550WP was introduced 3 years prior to the LX5 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the 550WP scores versus the LX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Panasonic LX5

 550WP LX5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Olympus 550WP

 LX5 550WP 
ReleasedDecember 2011January 2009Fresher by 35 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic LX5

 550WP LX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 550WP enjoys outer dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LX5 has dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic LX5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the 550WP compared to the LX5.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 550WP and LX5 is 94 and 88 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing merely by reviewing specs. The visual below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 550WP and LX5.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The 550WP contains the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging. The older 550WP is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus 550WP
Portrait photography with Panasonic LX5
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
41
you can focus manually
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography details
Panasonic LX5 Street photography details
61
image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
more heavy than competitors in class (271 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Sports photography camera
30
image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
low max shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
no shutter priority
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus 550WP
Travel photography with Panasonic LX5
55
environment proofing
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
59
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (271g)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography factors
Panasonic LX5 Landscape photography factors
30
image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no manual control
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
52
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging factors
Panasonic LX5 Vlogging factors
25
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (271 grams)
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Panasonic LX5
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus 550WP Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Other name mju 550WP -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-01-07 2011-12-15
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-114mm (3.0x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.0 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focus range 7cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 7.20 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 167g (0.37 lb) 271g (0.60 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 41
DXO Color Depth score not tested 19.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.8
DXO Low light score not tested 132
Other
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $399 $294