Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ8
94 Imaging
33 Features
17 Overall
26


94 Imaging
40 Features
31 Overall
36
Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs
(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
- Introduced January 2009
- Alternate Name is mju 550WP
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
- 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
- Launched January 2014

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview
Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic SZ8, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and SZ8 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

The 550WP was revealed 6 years prior to the SZ8 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the 550WP matches up vs the SZ8 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ8 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Panasonic SZ8 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Panasonic SZ8
550WP | SZ8 |
---|
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Olympus 550WP
SZ8 | 550WP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2014 | ![]() | January 2009 | More recent by 60 months |
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.5") |
Screen resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper screen (+230k dot) |
Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic SZ8
550WP | SZ8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | No manual focusing | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither comes with selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither comes with Touch friendly screen |
Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison
When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus 550WP comes with 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) and the Panasonic SZ8 has specifications of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).
Examine the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic SZ8 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the 550WP versus the SZ8.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the 550WP and SZ8 is 94 and 94 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor measurements only by researching specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 550WP and SZ8.
As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic SZ8 to result in more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older 550WP will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications
Olympus Stylus 550WP | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model type | Olympus Stylus 550WP | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 |
Also referred to as | mju 550WP | - |
Class | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Superzoom |
Introduced | 2009-01-07 | 2014-01-06 |
Body design | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Venus Engine |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor surface area | 27.7mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
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 | 4608 x 3456 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 1600 |
Highest boosted ISO | - | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 64 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection focus | ||
Contract detection focus | ||
Phase detection focus | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 38-114mm (3.0x) | 24-288mm (12.0x) |
Highest aperture | f/3.5-5.0 | f/3.1-6.3 |
Macro focusing range | 7cm | - |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
Screen resolution | 230 thousand dot | 460 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 4 seconds | 8 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/1000 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | - | 1.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | - | 5.20 m |
Flash options | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB 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) | 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) |
Highest video resolution | 640x480 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 167 grams (0.37 lbs) | 159 grams (0.35 lbs) |
Dimensions | 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") | 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") |
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 | - | 200 shots |
Style of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Self timer | Yes (12 seconds) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage media | xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Launch pricing | $399 | $275 |