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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Renewed by Olympus SP-820UZ
Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Revealed July 2010
  • Replacement is Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 Overview

Here is a in-depth review of the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic FZ100, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the FZ100 (14MP) is relatively similar and they feature the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SP-820UZ was revealed 2 years later than the FZ100 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a brief view of how the SP-820UZ matches up vs the FZ100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic FZ100

 SP-820UZ FZ100 
RevealedAugust 2012July 2010Fresher by 26 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 FZ100 SP-820UZ 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic FZ100

 SP-820UZ FZ100 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus SP-820UZ has external 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 FZ100 has sizing of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") along with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

See the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic FZ100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the SP-820UZ against the FZ100.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-820UZ and FZ100 is 69 and 67 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading specs. The photograph here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SP-820UZ and FZ100.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact MP therefore you can expect similar quality of pictures although you should really consider the age of the products into consideration. The more modern SP-820UZ is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography features
Panasonic FZ100 Portrait photography features
34
good MP (14MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
54
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography features
Panasonic FZ100 Street photography features
37
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
heavier than competition in class (485g)
58
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (540 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography details
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good MP (14 megapixels)
low fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ100
55
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (22mm)
long zoom (896mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (485 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
59
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (540g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography information
Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography information
35
relatively wide (22mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good MP (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
51
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
saves RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging advice
Panasonic FZ100 Vlogging advice
25
relatively wide (22mm)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than competition in class (485g)
64
pretty wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has microphone port
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than competition in class (540 grams)
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic FZ100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic FZ100
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-08-21 2010-07-21
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 22-896mm (40.7x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.7 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.00 m 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 485 grams (1.07 lbs) 540 grams (1.19 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $299 $500