Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ3

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was brought out 5 years before the SZ3 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the 550WP grades versus the SZ3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3. The entire galleries are available at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Panasonic SZ3 Gallery.

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus 550WP features physical dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic SZ3 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the 550WP against the SZ3.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the 550WP and SZ3 is 94 and 96 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking a spec sheet. The pic here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 550WP and SZ3.

Clearly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic SZ3 to give greater detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged 550WP is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.