Clicky

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 Key Specs

Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Revealed January 2014
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus SP-100 versus Panasonic ZR1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The SP-100 was introduced 4 years after the ZR1 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SP-100 matches up vs the ZR1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Panasonic ZR1

 SP-100 ZR1 
IntroducedJanuary 2014July 2009Newer by 55 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus SP-100

 ZR1 SP-100 

Common features in the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZR1

 SP-100 ZR1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-100 offers outside dimensions of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") along with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR1 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-100 versus Panasonic ZR1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SP-100 vs the ZR1.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SP-100 and ZR1 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out a spec sheet. The image underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-100 and ZR1.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Olympus SP-100 to show more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger SP-100 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SP-100
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR1
44
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
21
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography advice
42
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than competition in class (594 grams)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Sports photography camera
53
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Travel photography camera
53
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (594 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
57
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography advice
47
manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Time Lapse function
32
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-100
Vlogging with Panasonic ZR1
29
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic support
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (594g)
28
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus Stylus SP-100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also called - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-01-29 2009-07-27
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.9-6.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920 thousand dots -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 594g (1.31 lb) 158g (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
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 330 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $400 $280