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Olympus SP-820UZ

 
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34

Olympus SP-820UZ summary

Olympus SP-820UZ is Olympus's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera originally released on August of 2012. The camera includes a 14MP, CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a full resolution of 4288 x 3216.

Olympus launched this model as a way to replace the older Olympus SP-820UZ (Read Full Comparison) & subsequently released the newer Olympus SP-820UZ (Read Full Comparison) as a way to update this model.

The SP-820UZ stands at #214 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & over-all #952 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. Please look at our Smart camera filter to get camera listings based on your personalized criteria.

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Below is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Olympus SP-820UZ history

The Olympus SP-820UZ has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can see all past and newer models along with important features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Stylus-SH-3 front thumbnailOlympus SH-3
SP-820UZ vs SH-3
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2016
Olympus-Stylus-SH-2 front thumbnailOlympus SH-2
SP-820UZ vs SH-2
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
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Olympus-Stylus-SH-1 front thumbnailOlympus SH-1
SP-820UZ vs SH-1
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-Stylus-SP-100 front thumbnailOlympus SP-100
SP-820UZ vs SP-100
24-1200mm
F2.9-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-SZ-15 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-15
SP-820UZ vs SZ-15
23-483mm
F2.8-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-SZ-16-iHS front thumbnailOlympus SZ-16 iHS
SP-820UZ vs SZ-16 iHS
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Supernova astonishes astronomers in ancient 12th century observations
Olympus-SH-50 front thumbnailOlympus SH-50
SP-820UZ vs SH-50
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-Stylus-SP-820UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-820UZ22-896mm
F3.4-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SZ-31MR-iHS front thumbnailOlympus SZ-31MR iHS
SP-820UZ vs SZ-31MR iHS
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SZ-12 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-12
SP-820UZ vs SZ-12
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SP-620-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-620 UZ
SP-820UZ vs SP-620 UZ
25-525mm
F3.1-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Photography Glossary
Olympus-SP-810-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-810 UZ
SP-820UZ vs SP-810 UZ
24-864mm
F2.9-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-11 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-11
SP-820UZ vs SZ-11
25-500mm
F3.0-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-30MR front thumbnailOlympus SZ-30MR
SP-820UZ vs SZ-30MR
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-10 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-10
SP-820UZ vs SZ-10
28-504mm
F3.1-4.4
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-610UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-610UZ
SP-820UZ vs SP-610UZ
28-616mm
F3.3-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-800-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-800 UZ
SP-820UZ vs SP-800 UZ
28-840mm
F2.8-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-SP-600-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-600 UZ
SP-820UZ vs SP-600 UZ
28-420mm
F3.5-5.4
12MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-SP-565UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-565UZ
SP-820UZ vs SP-565UZ
26-520mm
F2.8-4.5
10MP1/2.3"2009
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video
Olympus-SP-590-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-590 UZ
SP-820UZ vs SP-590 UZ
26-676mm
F2.8-5.0
12MP1/2.3"2009

Olympus SP-820UZ Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of good and bad points of the Olympus SP-820UZ based on aspects which are typically regarded as important in a digital camera.

amazing zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
built-in flash
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
MP count decent (14MP)
rather wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
supports face detect focusing
very good minimum ISO (80)
very long zoom (896mm)
cannot use external flash
does not have selfie friendly screen
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
heavier than others in class (485 grams)
lack of HDMI port
lack of headphone port
lack of image stabilization
lack of manual focus
lack of mic port
lack of phase detect AF
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
no aperture priority mode
no articulating screen
no manual control
no shutter priority mode
screen has low resolution (460 k dot)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
sluggish at full zoom (f5.7)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
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Olympus SP-820UZ Sensor information

The sensor size on the Olympus SP-820UZ is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can capture 4288 x 3216 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9.

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The CMOS sensor has 14MP and features a standard ISO range of 80 to 6400. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved so you have less margin for error.

The picture underneath displays the SP-820UZ's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The SP-820UZ sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ sensor size Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus SP-820UZ dimensions

Olympus SP-820UZ weighs in at 1.07 lbs (485 gr or 17.11 ounces) & has external proportions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7"). The weight of average Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr and the Olympus SP-820UZ is weightier as compared with other competitors.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Underneath is a shot of the Olympus SP-820UZ besides a soda to help you to get a feel for its size.

Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ dimensions scale

The top view just below will illustrate the button layout on the SP-820UZ.

Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ topview buttons dials

Olympus SP-820UZ Lens information

The SP-820UZ offers an inbuilt lens having a focal range of 22-896mm giving it a 40.7 x zoom which is huge and will enable you to zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 22mm, it has an aperture of f3.4 which is really sluggish and not the best for low light events and you might find it hard to get a shallow depth of field. You could also need to up your ISO resulting in noisy images. For the long end, 896mm is excellent zoom and comes with f5.7 making it very sluggish and you might have to choose slower shutter speeds.

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Olympus SP-820UZ Connectivity

The SP-820UZ has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that feature NFC or Bluetooth support are able to be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily send images and at times change camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.

Several apps also stream a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it can easily be connected to an external screen. Many cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Olympus SP-820UZ Video information

The highest possible video quality on the Olympus SP-820UZ is 1920 x 1080 and you can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p quality delivers a great balance in video quality versus file size but 1080p won't give you any room to crop. The body does not offer a microphone or headphone jack so you have absolutely no control over the audio. It is probably best to consider a different model if you require good audio for your videos.

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Olympus SP-820UZ Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing on the Olympus SP-820UZ so you have to be careful in wet and dusty conditions.

Olympus SP-820UZ Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus SP-820UZ includes a 3" fixed display screen having a resolution of 460k dots.

Unfortunately the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ screen and viewfinder Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The ViewFinder details for Olympus SP-820UZ are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

For sunny outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders are very useful.

Olympus SP-820UZ Shutter information

Olympus SP-820UZ continuous shooting rate is 2.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.

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Olympus SP-820UZ Flash and Hot shoe information

Olympus SP-820UZ has just inbuilt flash with missing external flash support.

Olympus SP-820UZ Autofocus information

Olympus SP-820UZ has only Contrast Detect Autofocus & does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more snappier and precise as compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera includes Face detection which can be useful for people photography.

Olympus SP-820UZ does not have manual focus. Manual focus mode can be good in low light conditions or you want to have more accurate focus control.

Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-820UZ Battery life

The average Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the best (600) battery life in this class of cameras.

Here is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras which have the strongest battery life:

Olympus SP-820UZ for specific kinds of photography

The following illustration displays a outline of the Olympus SP-820UZ for specific kinds of photography. To view more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Portrait photography camera

The Olympus SP-820UZ has a score of 34 which is awful, meaning that it is just not suitable for portrait photography. Shooting portrait images favors heavily to sensor resolution, RAW support & option to work with external flash.

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decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Street photography camera

Coming in at a awful points total of 37, the Olympus SP-820UZ is just not suitable for street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competitors in class (485g)

Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography information

A awful sports photography points tally of 33 means the Olympus SP-820UZ is just not suitable for taking pictures of sports. A camera must have excellent focusing and shutter speeds for sports photography.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing
long zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography advice

Weight is pretty critical in picking a travel camera. On the whole, the Olympus SP-820UZ gets a reasonable 55 for a travelling camera which makes it reasonably adequate for your trips.

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megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
long zoom (896mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (485g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography advice

If you're planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photography, the most vital factor will be image quality. The Olympus SP-820UZ at it's awful grade of 35 for a landscape camera is just not suitable among its competition.

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pretty wide (22mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode

Vlogging with Olympus SP-820UZ

A camera for vlogging ought to offer a moving screen, mic input and if possible IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Olympus SP-820UZ is just not suitable as a vlog camera as it gets a awful rating of 25.

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pretty wide (22mm)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
does not have mic socket
heavier than competition in class (485 grams)

Olympus SP-820UZ Alternatives

If you are interested in replacements to the SP-820UZ, below is a range of the highest rated cameras which fall in to the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart here will give you a summary of the SP-820UZ versus it's highest ranking competitors mentioned earlier.

These are various other cameras you might see as alternative options. To look at a comprehensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Olympus
Model
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed
2012-08-21
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution
4288 x 3216
RAW files
Max native ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
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
Cross focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
22-896mm (40.7x)
Highest aperture
f/3.4-5.7
Macro focus range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3 inch
Screen resolution
460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology
TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
15.00 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
485 grams (1.07 pounds)
Dimensions
117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
One
Launch price
$299