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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Replaced the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Replacement is Olympus SP-820UZ
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF6
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is pretty close but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and GF5 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The SP-820UZ was announced 5 months later than the GF5 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SP-820UZ scores vs the GF5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic GF5

 SP-820UZ GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 GF5 SP-820UZ 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic GF5

 SP-820UZ GF5 
AnnouncedAugust 2012April 2012Same generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SP-820UZ features physical measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF5 has specifications of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the SP-820UZ against the GF5.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SP-820UZ and GF5 is 69 and 89 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-820UZ and GF5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SP-820UZ with its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus SP-820UZ will render extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography information
34
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
55
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Street photography highlights
37
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (485 grams)
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch to focus
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Sports photography with Panasonic GF5
33
incredible zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
good megapixels (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
40
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
low fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
55
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (22mm)
long reach (896mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (485 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
61
includes touch to focus
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography highlights
35
relatively wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
59
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Vlogging camera
25
relatively wide (22mm)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (485g)
32
touchscreen enabled
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-08-21 2012-04-05
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 22-896mm (40.7x) -
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 15.00 m 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 485g (1.07 lbs) 267g (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 50
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 573
Other
Battery life - 360 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $299 $600