Olympus 550WP vs Panasonic ZS8

Following is a in depth comparison of the Olympus 550WP versus Panasonic ZS8, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the 550WP (10MP) and ZS8 (14MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The 550WP was unveiled 3 years earlier than the ZS8 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a short introduction of how the 550WP scores against the ZS8 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus 550WP and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. The full galleries are provided at Olympus 550WP Gallery and Panasonic ZS8 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 550WP features external dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Olympus 550WP versus Panasonic ZS8 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the 550WP compared to the ZS8.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the 550WP and ZS8 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Usually, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over a spec sheet. The image here may give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550WP and ZS8.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Panasonic ZS8 to deliver extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged 550WP is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.