Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH1

The following is a detailed review of the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the GH1 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and GH1 (Four Thirds) enjoy different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SP-820UZ was launched 3 years after the GH1 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SP-820UZ matches up versus the GH1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. The complete galleries are available at Olympus SP-820UZ Gallery & Panasonic GH1 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-820UZ features outside measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") along with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Panasonic GH1 has proportions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") having a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the SP-820UZ and the GH1.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SP-820UZ and GH1 is 69 and 81 respectively.

Generally, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions merely by seeing a spec sheet. The image below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-820UZ and GH1.

Clearly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The SP-820UZ due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus SP-820UZ will show extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer SP-820UZ provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.