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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Previous Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Updated by Olympus SP-820UZ
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Announced January 2009
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the FS15 (12MP) is fairly similar and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SP-820UZ was manufactured 3 years later than the FS15 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SP-820UZ scores versus the FS15 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic FS15

 SP-820UZ FS15 
AnnouncedAugust 2012January 2009More recent by 44 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 FS15 SP-820UZ 

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic FS15

 SP-820UZ FS15 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-820UZ comes with exterior dimensions of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS15 has sizing of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SP-820UZ versus the FS15.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and FS15 is 69 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over specs. The visual here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SP-820UZ and FS15.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Olympus SP-820UZ to offer you more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher SP-820UZ is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography factors
34
decent MP (14MP)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
20
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography info
Panasonic FS15 Street photography info
37
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (485g)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
33
long zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent MP (14MP)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Travel photography camera
55
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (22mm)
very long reach (896mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (485 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography advice
35
rather wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging info
Panasonic FS15 Vlogging info
25
rather wide (22mm)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors in class (485 grams)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2012-08-21 2009-01-16
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type 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 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 15.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 485 gr (1.07 pounds) 136 gr (0.30 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $299 $180