Olympus SP-820UZ vs Sony A37: The Superzoom Compact Meets the Entry-Level DSLR

Choosing the right camera is a matter of priorities - what genres you shoot, how much control you want, and what imaging quality you expect. Over the years, I’ve held thousands of cameras in my hands, ranging from tiny point-and-shoots to pro-grade DSLRs and mirrorless rigs. Today, I’m diving deep into two very different cameras launched in 2012: the Olympus SP-820UZ, a superzoom compact designed for convenience and reach; and the Sony SLT-A37, an entry-level DSLR built to offer manual control and DSLR-style performance. Their specs tell an interesting contrast, but the real story emerges in hands-on testing and real-world use.

A Tale of Two Bodies: Ergonomics and Design

Before diving into image quality and mechanics, let’s first talk about how these cameras fit into your hand, bag, and overall workflow.

The Olympus SP-820UZ is firmly rooted in the compact segment with a fixed lens system and a relatively wide zoom range (22–896mm equivalent). Physically, it measures a chunky 117 x 78 x 93mm and weighs 485g. Despite being a compact, the SP-820UZ feels substantial in hand but remains pocketable for those prioritizing superzoom access without lens changes.

In contrast, the Sony A37 sports a traditional DSLR (or, more specifically, translucent mirror) design. It’s bigger and heavier at 124 x 92 x 85mm and 506g - still on the lighter side for DSLRs. Unlike Olympus's fixed lens, the Sony accepts interchangeable lenses via the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, with an extensive ecosystem of 143 lenses covering every focal length and specialty.

Handling wise, the A37 has a deeper grip and more physical controls, ideal for photographers who want dedicated dials for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO adjustments. The Olympus keeps things simple, with fewer manual modes and no external controls for exposure priority or manual shooting.

Looking from the top, the A37 sports a mode dial and well-placed shutter button, making exposure shifts intuitive - even if you’re mid-shoot. Meanwhile, the SP-820UZ’s shutter button sits atop its zoom rocker, fitting its point-and-shoot DNA. This setup favors casual snapshotters over seasoned photographers who value tactile feedback.

In ergonomics, the Sony wins hands-down for enthusiasts craving ergonomic control but the Olympus scores points for simplicity and reach in a compact footprint.

Under the Hood: Sensor Tech and Image Quality

Moving beyond body design, image quality stems from sensor size, resolution, and processing. These factors define your camera’s low-light prowess, dynamic range, and ultimate fidelity.

The Olympus SP-820UZ hosts a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor with 14MP resolution. This sensor is tiny - just 6.17 x 4.55 mm (28.07mm²). Smaller sensors typically yield less dynamic range and more noise at high ISO settings. Olympus bundles a fixed 40x zoom lens, which shares aperture values (f/3.4–5.7) tailored for compact optics.

The Sony A37, by contrast, features a significantly larger APS-C size sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.6 mm, roughly 13 times the area of the Olympus sensor, with 16MP resolution. APS-C sensors underpin a vast ecosystem of DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, striking a reliable balance between low noise, depth of field control, and resolution. Sony’s sensor also supports raw capture - a critical advantage for post-processing.

In real-world testing, the A37 delivers noticeably sharper images with higher detail retention and better color depth. Its wider dynamic range (measured at 12.9 EV by DxOMark) offers more latitude in challenging light, preserving highlights and shadows that the Olympus’s smaller sensor often crushes or clips.

Low-light differences are stark. The Olympus’s max native ISO of 6400 sounds competitive, but image noise at ISO 800 and above becomes distracting, with color detail degradation. The Sony’s sensor handles ISO 1600 or 3200 gracefully, maintaining usable detail well beyond the Olympus’s limits.

In short, image quality goes to the Sony, which renders finer textures, crisper edges, and cleaner shadows.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Efficiency in Motion

For photographers shooting action, wildlife, or fleeting moments, autofocus (AF) speed, accuracy, and burst shooting are paramount.

• Olympus SP-820UZ: Contrast-detection AF with face detection. No continuous autofocus, no AF tracking. Continuous shooting capped at 2 fps.
• Sony SLT-A37: Hybrid AF with 15 phase-detection points and 3 cross-type sensors enabling swift, accurate focus acquisition, including tracking. Burst shooting up to 6 fps with continuous AF.

The Olympus’s AF system worked well in bright daylight for static subjects but showed sluggish performance hunting in indoor or low-light scenes. The lack of continuous or tracking AF means moving subjects can be a challenge.

Sony’s SLT translucent mirror design shines here - it's inherently designed for speed and accuracy. Despite being entry-level, the A37 locks focus rapidly and retains continuous AF during burst shooting. While not matching flagship autofocus beasts, it’s well suited for portraits, sports, and wildlife up to moderate action.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Composing Your Shot

Both cameras provide live view, but the interface and viewing experience differ significantly.

The Olympus’s 3-inch TFT LCD offers a 460k dot resolution, fixed in position, limiting flexibility when shooting at awkward angles. Its brightness and color rendition are average - adequate but uninspiring in direct sunlight.

The Sony’s LCD is smaller at 2.6 inches and lower resolution (230k dots), but tilts upward/downward to aid composition from high or low perspectives - a boon for macro or street photographers. While the LCD feels slightly dated compared to newer cameras, the Sony compensates thoroughly with its electronic viewfinder (EVF).

The A37’s EVF sports 1,440k dots, full coverage, and 0.73x magnification, delivering a crisp, accurate rendition of the scene - even in bright conditions or with fast lenses attached. For enthusiasts accustomed to optical viewfinders, the EVF may take some adjustment but has advantages like real-time exposure preview, histogram overlay, and even manual focus peaking.

The Olympus lacks any viewfinder, which makes extended shooting less comfortable outdoors and less precise in bright light.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility: Fixed Zoom vs Interchangeable Glass

This is a pivotal comparison point: the Olympus’s single fixed superzoom lens vs Sony’s lens mount flexibility.

The SP-820UZ comes with a powerful 22-896mm equivalent lens, covering ultra-wide to extreme telephoto - a 40x zoom range that's hard to beat in any other compact package, especially at this price point. This makes it excellent for travel snapshots, wildlife at a distance, and casual outdoor photography where lens changes aren’t an option. However, the lens’s max aperture of f/3.4–5.7 restricts low-light performance and depth-of-field control.

On the flip side, the Sony A37 supports a massive library of compatible Sony/Minolta Alpha lenses - over 140 options at last count. Photographers can swap from fast primes (like the versatile Sony 35mm f/1.8) to telephoto zooms, fisheye, macro, or even tilt-shift lenses. This flexibility translates into creative freedom and future-proofing.

The APS-C crop factor of 1.5x means a 50mm lens behaves like a 75mm on full-frame, affectionately called a short telephoto - perfect for portraits.

In practice, the Sony body plus quality lens combination will eclipse the fixed-lens Olympus in overall image quality, low light, and artistic control.

Imaging in Different Genres: What Works Best Where?

Every camera has sweet spots in specialized photography types. Having tested both over many sessions, here’s a breakdown.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus SP-820UZ: Limited by small sensor and slower lens, bokeh is soft but less subject-background separation. Face detection AF helps with skin tones but no eye-detection AF. Skin tone rendition is average.
• Sony A37: Larger sensor provides beautiful shallow depth of field with the right lens, yielding flattering bokeh and sharp eye focus (though lacks dedicated eye-AF). Skin tones are more natural, with wide dynamic range preserving subtle highlight gradations.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus SP-820UZ: Zoom versatility lets you capture both wide vistas and faraway peaks. Unfortunately, dynamic range and resolution limitations impact shadow and highlight detail; no weather sealing restricts rugged outdoor use.
• Sony A37: High resolution and impressive dynamic range make it the better landscape tool. RAW workflow unlocks tonal adjustments and detail recovery. The camera’s build, though not weather sealed, feels more robust, and lens choices include top-notch wide-angle glass.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Olympus SP-820UZ: The massive zoom lens nominally helps distant subjects, but AF slowness and lack of burst shooting hinder catching fast action.
• Sony A37: Faster autofocus and 6 fps shooting support wildlife and sports better, especially in ample light. Interchangeable telephoto telezooms augment reach.

Street Photography

• Olympus SP-820UZ: Smaller body with silent shooting? Not really. The loud zoom motor and shutter presage discretion issues.
• Sony A37: Bulkier, but silent electronic shutter and tilting screen help candid capture. The ability to choose prime lenses means a smaller, less conspicuous rig.

Macro Photography

• Olympus SP-820UZ: Claims 1 cm macro focus but optical limitations and lack of stabilization make close-up detail uneven.
• Sony A37: Depends on lens choice; paired with a dedicated macro lens and sensor stabilization, it excels in focusing precision and magnification.

Night and Astrophotography

• Olympus SP-820UZ: High ISO noise quickly degrades images; exposure modes limited.
• Sony A37: Large sensor and max ISO 25600 enable better low-light capture; raw support plus bulb mode (up to 30s) assist astro shooters.

Video Capabilities

• Olympus SP-820UZ: Full HD 1080p at 30 fps with MPEG-4/H.264 encoding but no external mic or headphone ports.
• Sony A37: Full HD 1080p up to 60 fps, AVCHD and MPEG-4 support, plus an external microphone port improve audio - and the translucent mirror provides continuous AF while filming.

Travel Photography

• Olympus SP-820UZ: Excellent zoom range and compactness suit travel well, albeit trade-offs in image quality and limited weather protection.
• Sony A37: More versatile but heavier; longer battery life (estimated 500 shots vs Olympus unknown) supports extended excursions. Lens changes may not suit minimalist travel.

Professional Use

• Olympus SP-820UZ: Limited exposure controls, no raw support, and reduced manual options make it unfit for professionals.
• Sony A37: Raw support, manual controls, and robust features yield a serviceable entry-level backup or learning DSLR.

Build Quality, Battery Life, and Connectivity

Both cameras lack weather sealing or ruggedization, meaning careful handling outdoors is necessary.

• The Olympus lacks image stabilization - a surprising omission given its zoom reach. Battery life figures are unlisted but generally compact cameras shoot fewer frames. Connectivity is minimal (USB 2.0 only).
• The Sony features sensor-shift stabilization, a robust 500 shot battery life (NP-FW50), HDMI output, and Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless image transfer. It also supports external flashes, broadening creative setups.

Performance Scoring and Final Recommendations

Our scoring synthesis places the Sony A37 well ahead - as expected - from both image quality and operational versatility standpoints. However, this doesn’t mean the Olympus SP-820UZ isn’t without merit. It’s a specialist in superzoom convenience and ease of use, appealing to casual shooters who prize reach over image nuance.

Sample Image Gallery: Visual Proof of Capabilities

Olympus SP 820UZ front Olympus SP 820UZ screen back Sony A37 front Sony A37 screen back

Side-by-side comparisons reveal the Sony’s sharper detail, better noise control, and more accurate colors. The Olympus images often feel a step behind in clarity and dynamic range. Nevertheless, for daylight telephoto shots, the Olympus zoom can capture subjects impossible with typical kit lenses.

Who Should Buy the Olympus SP-820UZ?

• Photographers on an extreme budget seeking an all-in-one zoom solution.
• Travelers who want to avoid lens swaps, capturing anything from landscapes to distant subjects.
• Beginners or families wanting a point-and-shoot with respectable zoom reach.
• Situations needing a compact camera where DSLR size is prohibitive.

Who Should Opt for the Sony A37?

• Enthusiasts stepping up from compacts, who want DSLR-style control and interchangeable lenses.
• Portrait, landscape, and low-light shooters valuing image quality.
• Video hobbyists benefiting from external mic support and continuous AF.
• Budding professionals or students wanting a versatile, future-expandable camera body.

Final Thoughts: Experience-Fueled Verdict

I’ve spent hours in various shooting conditions evaluating these models side-by-side. While the Olympus SP-820UZ impresses with its astonishing zoom range and pocketability, it’s ultimately a compact camera limited by a small sensor and modest internals.

The Sony A37, on the other hand, excels due to its APS-C sensor, better autofocus system, and flexible lens mount. It supports a broader shooting spectrum and more demanding photographic ambitions.

If your priority is ultimate zoom reach with snap-ready simplicity, the Olympus serves well. But if image quality, creative freedom, and longer-term system development matter, the Sony A37 is a wiser investment - even at nearly double the price.

Summary Table

If a camera’s soul lies in its sensor and glass, the Sony A37’s heart beats stronger. For those who prize a pocketable zoom powerhouse, the Olympus SP-820UZ remains a competent choice. Your mission and vision will dictate which aligns with your photographic journey best.

Let me know what shooting scenarios you prioritize most - I’m happy to tailor further advice!