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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 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
  • Released August 2012
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Later Model is Olympus SP-820UZ
Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH3
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH5
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic GH4, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and the GH4 (16MP) is fairly comparable but the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and GH4 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor measurements.

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The SP-820UZ was unveiled 17 months before the GH4 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the SP-820UZ matches up vs the GH4 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Panasonic GH4

 SP-820UZ GH4 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 GH4 SP-820UZ 
ReleasedFebruary 2014August 2012More recent by 17 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1036k460kSharper display (+576k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic GH4

 SP-820UZ GH4 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus SP-820UZ provides external measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) while the Panasonic GH4 has specifications of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") having a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs).

Examine the Olympus SP-820UZ versus Panasonic GH4 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the SP-820UZ vs the GH4.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SP-820UZ and GH4 is 69 and 66 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-820UZ and GH4.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SP-820UZ using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic GH4 will provide more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older SP-820UZ will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GH4 Portrait photography factors
34
MP count good (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Street photography highlights
Panasonic GH4 Street photography highlights
37
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than average in class (485g)
71
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather proofing
lighter than others in class (560g)
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH4 as a Sports photography camera
33
long zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
MP count good (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
62
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography information
Panasonic GH4 Travel photography information
55
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (22mm)
long reach (896mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
heavier than average in class (485g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
77
lighter than others in class (560g)
weather proofing
comes with touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Landscape photography info
Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography info
35
fairly wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
72
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Vlogging details
Panasonic GH4 Vlogging details
25
fairly wide (22mm)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external mic socket
heavier than average in class (485g)
71
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone jack
lighter than others in class (560 grams)
no image stabilization
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Panasonic GH4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Panasonic GH4
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Released 2012-08-21 2014-02-07
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine IX
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 49
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 22-896mm (40.7x) -
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,036 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.67x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 15.00 m 17.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/250 seconds
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) 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 485g (1.07 lb) 560g (1.23 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.8
DXO Low light score not tested 791
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - DMW-BLF19
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $299 $1,500