Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FX580

Its time to look closer at the Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FX580, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and FX580 (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SP-100 was unveiled 5 years after the FX580 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the SP-100 scores versus the FX580 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus Stylus SP-100 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SP-100 Gallery & Panasonic FX580 Gallery.

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus SP-100 enjoys external measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") having a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Panasonic FX580 has measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FX580 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SP-100 compared to the FX580.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-100 and FX580 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by looking through specs. The image below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-100 and FX580.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SP-100 to provide you with greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer SP-100 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.