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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Released January 2009
  • Alternative Name is mju 550WP
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

The following is a complete assessment of the Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and SZ5 (14MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was released 4 years before the SZ5 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the 550WP grades against the SZ5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Panasonic SZ5

 550WP SZ5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus 550WP

 SZ5 550WP 
LaunchedJuly 2012January 2009Newer by 42 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic SZ5

 550WP SZ5 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus 550WP provides exterior measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check out the Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the 550WP vs the SZ5.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the 550WP and SZ5 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions simply by checking a spec sheet. The image below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the 550WP and SZ5.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic SZ5 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged 550WP is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography advice
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
34
good MP (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography information
61
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (136 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography details
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
max shutter speed is low (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 550WP Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography information
55
weather proofing
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
70
lighter than competition (136g)
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography factors
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (2.5")
manual exposure not available
resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging advice
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging advice
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
32
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition (136g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus 550WP Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Otherwise known as mju 550WP -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-01-07 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-114mm (3.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.0 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 7cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 gr (0.37 lbs) 136 gr (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 250 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $399 $195