Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic FX580

The following is a detailed analysis of the Olympus XZ-1 versus Panasonic FX580, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the FX580 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and FX580 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was unveiled 2 years after the FX580 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the XZ-1 scores versus the FX580 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus XZ-1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery & Panasonic FX580 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus XZ-1 provides exterior measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) while the Panasonic FX580 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Olympus XZ-1 versus Panasonic FX580 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the XZ-1 and the FX580.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the XZ-1 and FX580 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to picture the gap between sensor dimensions simply by looking at technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the XZ-1 and FX580.

As you have seen, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The XZ-1 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FX580 will give you greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger XZ-1 provides an advantage in sensor technology.