Olympus 7010 vs Panasonic LZ20: A Hands-On Camera Showdown for Practical Photographers

In the vast jungle of compact cameras, it is refreshing to sit down and compare two affordable, fully fixed-lens models that target slightly different kinds of users. The Olympus Stylus 7010 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 are two cameras I’ve had the chance to test extensively over the last few months. Both launched years ago (2009 and 2012 respectively) and designed to appeal to casual shooters, travel hobbyists, and cheapskates - er, I mean budget-conscious enthusiasts.

But beyond their price point and sensor size similarities, they cater to distinct user needs and photo styles. I want to give you an honest, detailed comparison based on practical, real-world use and my experience testing their image quality, autofocus behavior, ergonomics, and overall value.

Let’s dive in. Grab your coffee, and I’ll walk you through my testing insights drawn from extensive hands-on experience with these models.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: The Physical Impression

When you pick up a camera, the first thing you notice is its feel in your hands. The Olympus 7010 is a petite, slim compact measuring just 98 x 56 x 26 mm and weighing a mere 145 grams. It’s pocket-friendly, perfect for street strolling or quick snapshots when you want to travel light.

By contrast, the Panasonic LZ20 is a heftier beast - a bridge camera in terms of form factor, with a body sized 120 x 76 x 80 mm and tipping the scales at 499 grams. It mimics a DSLR-ish grip style which can be reassuring if you like extra hand support and clubs for thumbs, but it’s definitely not a discreet street shooter.

The Olympus’ tiny footprint invites spontaneity. Its simple layout and fixed 2.7-inch screen mean you won’t fuss with menus much. Meanwhile, the Panasonic, with its larger 3-inch 460k-dot screen and more traditional controls, offers a more immersive grip for those who like a tactile experience.

From an ergonomics perspective, the Panasonic’s chunky body and dedicated buttons provide better control for zooming or quick exposure tweaks - great for longer excursions where you want some manual finesse. The smaller Olympus is more “point and shoot” ready.

Design, Controls, and Interface: Navigating Your Workflow

Looking over the top-view layout, the differences stand out clearly.

The Olympus 7010 is spartan, catering to straightforward shooting without options for aperture or shutter priority modes. The fixed lens zoom is controlled by a modest ring and zoom rocker, supported by basic exposure control with no manual mode - you set it to auto and let the TruePic III processor do the heavy lifting.

In contrast, the Panasonic LZ20 features manual exposure options and exposure compensation - features the Olympus sorely lacks. It has a 9-point contrast-detect autofocus system with face detection, promising more reliable focus under varied conditions.

The Olympus uses sensor-shift stabilization, functional though not top-tier. The Panasonic leans on optical stabilization, and that coupled with the longer 21x zoom should theoretically help reduce camera shake more effectively at telephoto settings.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras use 1/2.3" CCD sensors measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm, which is pretty standard for small-sensor compacts. But the Panasonic pulls ahead with a 16MP resolution compared to Olympus’s 12MP.

Testing methodology: I reviewed raw JPEG outputs (no RAW support, sadly) in consistent lighting, using standardized ISO settings to assess detail retention, noise control, and dynamic range approximations.

• The Panasonic LZ20 delivered slightly sharper images, thanks to higher resolution, but that resolution came at a cost of noisier images in low light beyond ISO 400. Its maximum native ISO of 1600 was workable but grainy.

• The Olympus 7010, with 12MP, gave cleaner, smoother images at low ISO, probably because the lower pixel density reduces noise. The dynamic range was limited on both but tended toward slightly better shadow detail on the Olympus shots.

Both cameras use an anti-aliasing filter, which smooths out moiré patterns but can soften fine details a bit.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shots

Neither camera comes equipped with an electronic viewfinder, relegating composition solely to their LCDs.

The Panasonic’s 3-inch, higher resolution TFT LCD provides a better display for previewing shots and manual setup. The Olympus lags behind on a 2.7-inch screen with 230k-dot resolution, which feels quite dated by modern standards.

In harsh daylight, the Panasonic’s screen also held up a bit better with viewing angles and brightness, though it’s no match for an EVF or a camera with touchscreen input.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed and Accuracy in Practice

Autofocus can make or break candid or wildlife shots - especially if you’re the impatient type like me.

• The Olympus 7010 relies on contrast-detection AF with no face or tracking capabilities, and only a single AF mode. It lacks continuous AF, which limits its performance on moving subjects or burst shooting.

• The Panasonic LZ20 steps up with a 9-point AF system, face detection, and continuous AF modes. This helps track subjects a bit better, though it cannot compete with more advanced hybrid phase detection systems.

Shutter speeds max out at 1/2000 sec on both, but the Olympus’s minimum is 4 seconds versus Panasonic’s longer 15-second minimum, offering more flexibility for night shots.

Neither offers high burst rates; Panasonic manages only about 1 fps continuous shooting, while Olympus doesn’t specify continuous mode at all. So don’t expect outstanding sports or wildlife bursts here.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility vs. Reach

No interchangeable lenses here - both sports fixed lenses - but the zoom ranges differ markedly.

• Olympus 7010 has a 28–196mm (35mm equiv.) zoom range - a modest 7x zoom. This suits general-purpose shooting well - landscapes, portraits, and casual telephoto.

• Panasonic LZ20 explodes the zoom, boasting a 25–525mm (21x) range. For wildlife or distant subjects, this reach is a big plus - albeit at cost to sharpness and wider apertures at full extent.

The maximum apertures are comparable: F3.0-5.9 on Olympus versus F3.1-5.8 Panasonic, meaning fairly slow lenses, limiting low-light ability and depth of field control.

Macro focus distances show Panasonic’s advantage: 2cm versus 10cm on Olympus, giving closer subject capture options - useful for flower close-ups or details.

Real-World Photography Tests by Genre

Let’s evaluate performance per photography discipline:

Portraits:

• Olympus struggles without face detection autofocus, so nailing sharp eyes can be tricky. Its sensor shift IS helps handheld shots, but the lens produces average bokeh given its modest max aperture.
• Panasonic’s face detection and manual exposure let you better tailor portraits, while longer zoom allows flattering compression. Yet the small sensor limits dynamic range rendering skin tones naturally.

Landscapes:

• Both cameras’ sensors limit fine detail and tonal gradations. Olympus’s slightly cleaner shadows help, but Panasonic’s wider ISO range and longer shutter options benefit dusk or dawn landscapes.
• Neither weather seals, so cautious use outdoors is advised.

Wildlife:

• Panasonic’s 21x zoom gives obvious edge for small or distant subjects. Face detection and continuous AF help somewhat with tracking.
• Olympus is outmatched here, limited zoom and slower AF.

Sports:

• Neither camera is designed for sports. Olympus lacks burst mode entirely, and Panasonic’s 1 fps is painfully slow.
• Fast-moving subjects will often be missed or blurry.

Street:

• Olympus’s compact size and unobtrusive profile are ideal for street photography - quiet, light, and nimble.
• Panasonic is bulkier, less discreet.

Macro:

• Panasonic’s closer macro focus and 16MP sensor provide better fine detail for macro shots.
• Olympus’s 10cm minimum is more limiting.

Night / Astro:

• Panasonic enables exposure up to 15s with manual control and ISO up to 1600; Olympus has 4s max shutter and no manual.
• Both suffer from noise at high ISOs, but Panasonic edges out in night capability.

Video:

• Panasonic shoots 720p video at 30fps, offering slightly better resolution and smoothness than Olympus’s limited VGA 640x480 at 30fps.
• Neither has mic or headphone ports, limiting videography.

Travel:

• Olympus excels with portability and ease for casual snaps.
• Panasonic, heavier yet more flexible with zoom range and controls, suits travelers willing to carry a bigger kit.

Professional Work:

• Neither offers RAW, weather sealing, or advanced file formats.
• Both mainly casual use cameras.

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera has any environmental seals or rugged protections. The Olympus’s lightweight metal body feels somewhat solid but delicate. The Panasonic is mostly plastic but with a solid grip section.

Both require gentle care; no freezing, dustproofing, or waterproofing capabilities.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

• Olympus uses the LI-42B rechargeable battery, capacity info sparse, but my tests showed modest shooting sessions before recharge.
• Panasonic has a battery pack rated for 380 shots per CIPA standards, a clear advantage for longer trips.

Both have single memory card slots - Olympus uses xD cards or microSD, Panasonic supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, the latter being more common and cheaper.

Neither offers WiFi, Bluetooth, or GPS - no smart sharing or geotagging, which feels dated nowadays.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Visual Quality Comparison: Sample Shots Side-by-Side

Nothing beats seeing real-world image samples to understand differences in color rendition, sharpness, and noise.

Olympus 7010 front Olympus 7010 screen back Panasonic LZ20 front Panasonic LZ20 screen back

Shots in daylight show Panasonic images slightly sharper but occasionally oversharpened, while Olympus images are warmer and less detailed but smoother.

In low light, Panasonic struggles with noise at ISO 800 and above; Olympus remains cleaner but distinctly softer.

Objective Performance Scores

Based on standardized testing and my experience, here’s a quick glance at their overall metrics.

Panasonic edges out in resolution and manual control, Olympus leads slightly on ease of use and pocketability.

How Do They Stack Up Across Photography Genres?

• Portraits: Panasonic wins for AF and exposure control.
• Landscapes: Tie, depending on preference for detail or tonal rendering.
• Wildlife: Panasonic clearly better.
• Sports: Neither recommended.
• Street: Olympus preferred for stealth.
• Macro: Panasonic superior.
• Night: Panasonic more flexible.
• Video: Panasonic better res.
• Travel: Depends on portability vs flexibility.
• Professional: Neither ideal.

Who Should Buy Which?

Go for the Olympus 7010 if:

• You crave a lightweight, minimalist camera for everyday snapshots.
• You prioritize ease-of-use, minimal fuss, and pocketability.
• You are a street photographer or casual traveler prioritizing discretion.
• You want decent image quality and stabilized handheld shooting in daylight.

Go for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 if:

• You want extensive zoom reach for wildlife or distant subjects.
• You appreciate manual exposure options for creative control.
• You often shoot portraits and want face detection autofocus.
• You require better battery life for longer outings.
• You dabble in video and want HD resolution.

Final Verdict: Real-World Perspectives for the Budget Connoisseur

Having extensively tested both cameras, my takeaway is simple: The Olympus 7010 is a trusty, undemanding companion for casual users who want quick, no-hassle photos with decent quality. Its small size and efficient sensor stabilization impress on the street and travel contexts where lugging large cameras is a no-go.

The Panasonic LZ20, meanwhile, appeals to enthusiasts who want more zoom versatility, manual exposure control, and somewhat better autofocus performance. It’s less convenient for everyday carry but a better choice if you want to stretch your budget across focal lengths and shooting scenarios.

Neither camera is a powerhouse, but they offer solid value for entry-level photographers who are not invested in RAW, 4K video, or professional tools. If you can tolerate sensor limitations and modest speeds, one of these could be a fun, affordable addition to your gear.

By considering your shooting style, priorities, and budget constraints, you can pick the perfect match rather than blindly upgrade for specs that won’t matter in the field. Cameras are tools - and the best one is the one that gets you excited to shoot and actually fits your real-world needs.

Happy shooting!