Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic TS30

The following is a in depth assessment of the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic TS30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and TS30 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was manufactured 7 years earlier than the TS30 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the 550WP scores against the TS30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Panasonic TS30 Gallery.

In case you're planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus 550WP provides physical 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 TS30 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 20mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic TS30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the 550WP vs the TS30.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the 550WP and TS30 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Usually, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 550WP and TS30.

Clearly, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic TS30 to offer you greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged 550WP is going to be behind in sensor innovation.