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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Also Known as mju 550WP
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Panasonic ZS20

 550WP ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus 550WP

 ZS20 550WP 
AnnouncedApril 2012January 2009More modern by 40 months
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS20

 550WP ZS20 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

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

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus 550WP
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
30
MP count good (14MP)
no manual focus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography factors
61
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than competitors (206g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 550WP as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
30
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
low max shutter speed (1/1,000s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 550WP Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography factors
55
weather proof
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
68
lighter than competitors (206 grams)
supports focus via touch
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (260 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus 550WP
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
30
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proof
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.5")
lack of manual exposure
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
42
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery power (260 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging information
25
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
34
quite wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (206 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus 550WP Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called as mju 550WP Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-07 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-114mm (3.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.0 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 7cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 grams (0.37 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 - 260 pictures
Battery format - 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 1 1
Cost at launch $399 $349