Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the image resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and ZS20 (14MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was revealed 4 years before the ZS20 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick overview of how the 550WP scores versus the ZS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20. The full galleries are available at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Panasonic ZS20 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 550WP has exterior dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the 550WP versus the ZS20.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the 550WP and ZS20 is 94 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The picture below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550WP and ZS20.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS20 to resolve extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more aged 550WP is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.