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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 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 ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS50, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the 550WP (10MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is fairly comparable and they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The 550WP was released 7 years prior to the ZS50 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the 550WP scores against the ZS50 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Panasonic ZS50

 550WP ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus 550WP

 ZS50 550WP 
LaunchedJanuary 2015January 2009Fresher by 73 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)

Common features in the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS50

 550WP ZS50 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus 550WP offers physical measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS50 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS50 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the 550WP against the ZS50.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 550WP and ZS50 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through technical specs. The photograph here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the 550WP and ZS50.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS50 to produce greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively. The older 550WP will be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 550WP Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography highlights
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
42
you can focus manually
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus 550WP Street photography details
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography details
61
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (243g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus 550WP
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
30
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 550WP Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography information
55
weather proofing
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
66
lighter than competition in class (243 grams)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 550WP Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography info
30
image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small screen (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
51
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 550WP Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging factors
25
image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic port
34
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (243g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 550WP and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus Stylus 550WPPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus 550WP Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Also called as mju 550WP Lumix DMC-TZ70
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-01-07 2015-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-114mm (3.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.0 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 7cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 167 gr (0.37 lbs) 243 gr (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 44
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 138
Other
Battery life - 300 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $399 $350