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Olympus SP-620 UZ

 
Olympus SP-620 UZ front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 435g - 110 x 74 x 74mm
  • Launched January 2012
  • Replaced the Olympus SP-610UZ
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
78
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus SP-620 UZ summary

Olympus SP-620 UZ is Olympus's Small Sensor Superzoom camera originally revealed on January of 2012. The camera includes a 16MP, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Olympus introduced this camera as a way to update the older Olympus SP-610UZ (Read Full Comparison)

The SP-620 UZ ranks at #174 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & overall #828 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should try out our Advanced camera finder to get camera ratings based on your customized factors.

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Here is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Olympus SP-620 UZ family

The Olympus SP-620 UZ has a history of related digital cameras. Here, you can see all older and the latest models alongside key specs.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Olympus-Stylus-SH-3 front thumbnailOlympus SH-3
SP-620 UZ vs SH-3
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2016
Olympus-Stylus-SH-2 front thumbnailOlympus SH-2
SP-620 UZ vs SH-2
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
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Olympus-Stylus-SH-1 front thumbnailOlympus SH-1
SP-620 UZ vs SH-1
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-Stylus-SP-100 front thumbnailOlympus SP-100
SP-620 UZ vs SP-100
24-1200mm
F2.9-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2014
Olympus-SZ-15 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-15
SP-620 UZ vs SZ-15
23-483mm
F2.8-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-SZ-16-iHS front thumbnailOlympus SZ-16 iHS
SP-620 UZ vs SZ-16 iHS
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Olympus-SH-50 front thumbnailOlympus SH-50
SP-620 UZ vs SH-50
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Olympus-Stylus-SP-820UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-820UZ
SP-620 UZ vs SP-820UZ
22-896mm
F3.4-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SZ-31MR-iHS front thumbnailOlympus SZ-31MR iHS
SP-620 UZ vs SZ-31MR iHS
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SZ-12 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-12
SP-620 UZ vs SZ-12
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2012
Olympus-SP-620-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-620 UZ25-525mm
F3.1-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2012
Photography Glossary
Olympus-SP-810-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-810 UZ
SP-620 UZ vs SP-810 UZ
24-864mm
F2.9-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-11 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-11
SP-620 UZ vs SZ-11
25-500mm
F3.0-6.9
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-30MR front thumbnailOlympus SZ-30MR
SP-620 UZ vs SZ-30MR
25-600mm
F3.0-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SZ-10 front thumbnailOlympus SZ-10
SP-620 UZ vs SZ-10
28-504mm
F3.1-4.4
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-610UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-610UZ
SP-620 UZ vs SP-610UZ
28-616mm
F3.3-5.7
14MP1/2.3"2011
Olympus-SP-800-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-800 UZ
SP-620 UZ vs SP-800 UZ
28-840mm
F2.8-5.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-SP-600-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-600 UZ
SP-620 UZ vs SP-600 UZ
28-420mm
F3.5-5.4
12MP1/2.3"2010
Olympus-SP-565UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-565UZ
SP-620 UZ vs SP-565UZ
26-520mm
F2.8-4.5
10MP1/2.3"2009
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Olympus-SP-590-UZ front thumbnailOlympus SP-590 UZ
SP-620 UZ vs SP-590 UZ
26-676mm
F2.8-5.0
12MP1/2.3"2009

Olympus SP-620 UZ Pros and Cons

Below is a shortlist of positives and negatives of the Olympus SP-620 UZ based on features that are generally considered useful in a camera.

amazing zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
flash built-in
good resolution (16 megapixels)
great minimum ISO (100)
has HDMI out
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
long reach (525mm)
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
supports face detect focus
supports tracking focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
display is not selfie friendly
external flash not possible
has no phase detect auto focus
has no RAW files
lack of aperture priority mode
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
low resolution screen (230 k dots)
manual focus not available
max zoom aperture not good (f5.8)
no articulating screen
no headphone support
no manual exposure
no mic support
no shutter priority
no Time Lapse function
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Olympus SP-620 UZ Sensor details

The Olympus SP-620 UZ houses the TruePic III+ chip. The measurement of the sensor on the Olympus SP-620 UZ is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera has Image Stabilization (Sensor-shift). Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization since the latter can lead to cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 16 megapixels and features a native ISO range of 100 to 3200. Sadly, RAW files are not saved therefore the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The image below shows the SP-620 UZ's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The SP-620 UZ sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is pointed out in green.

Olympus SP-620 UZ sensor size Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus SP-620 UZ dimensions

Olympus SP-620 UZ weighs around 0.96 lb (435g or 15.34 oz) & the sizing of the camera is 110mm x 74mm x 74mm (4.3" x 2.9" x 2.9"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g and the Olympus SP-620 UZ is more heavy when compared with other rivals.

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Listed below is a photo of the Olympus SP-620 UZ with a soda so you're able to get a sense of its scale.

Olympus SP-620 UZ dimensions scale

The top view here will highlight the button layout on the SP-620 UZ.

Olympus SP-620 UZ topview buttons dials

Olympus SP-620 UZ Lens specs

The SP-620 UZ provides a built in lens providing a focal range of 25-525mm making it a 21.0 x zoom which is ideal and is going to allow you to zoom right in.

At the widest 25mm, it has an aperture of f3.1 which will be pretty slow and not the best for low light occasions and you might find it hard to get a shallow depth of field. You will probably also need to raise the ISO which causes noisy files. At the tele end, 525mm is exceptional zoom and comes to f5.8 which is pretty slow and you might need to utilize slow shutter speeds.

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Olympus SP-620 UZ Connectivity

The SP-620 UZ has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that feature NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to transfer pictures and in some cases alter settings with no need to connect directly to the camera.

Many applications even provide a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI port, it can be hooked up to an external screen. Almost all cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Olympus SP-620 UZ Video specs

The max video quality on the Olympus SP-620 UZ is 1280 x 720 and you can capture in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 720p is low for today's standards. You should really strive for at least FUll HD quality for video. The camera does not have a microphone and headphone port which means that you get no control over the sound. It is perhaps a better idea to look into a different camera in case you want good sound for your video clips.

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Olympus SP-620 UZ Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing for the Olympus SP-620 UZ so you need to be careful in rainy and dusty conditions.

Olympus SP-620 UZ Display and Viewfinder

The Olympus SP-620 UZ includes a 3" fixed display boasting a resolution of 230k dots.

Sadly the display is not a touch screen.

Olympus SP-620 UZ screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The ViewFinder specs for Olympus SP-620 UZ are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

For bright outdoor conditions which make the camera displays washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders are quite valuable.

Olympus SP-620 UZ Shutter specs

The max shutter speed is 1/1500 seconds.

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Olympus SP-620 UZ Flash and Hot shoe specs

Olympus SP-620 UZ has only built in flash lacking external flash support.

Olympus SP-620 UZ Autofocus specs

Olympus SP-620 UZ has just Contrast Based Autofocus & lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker and accurate when compared with Contrast Based focusing. The camera includes Face detect making it valuable for people photography.

It also boasts Tracking Autofocus for things on the move. Olympus SP-620 UZ lacks manual focusing. Manual focusing ability can be useful for low light or you need to have more accurate focus control.

Photography Glossary

Olympus SP-620 UZ Battery life

The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the maximum (600) battery life for this range of cameras.

Underneath is a number of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the highest battery life:

Olympus SP-620 UZ for specific types of photography

The following chart shows a rundown of the Olympus SP-620 UZ for specific types of photography. To check out more, browse to the specific section below.

Olympus SP-620 UZ Portrait photography info

The Olympus SP-620 UZ has a rating of 34 which is lousy, and means the camera is just not acceptable for portraits. Taking portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor resolution, RAW support plus the option to utilize external lighting.

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resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Olympus SP-620 UZ Street photography factors

With a decent score of 50, the Olympus SP-620 UZ is reasonably suitable to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera comes with a good balance of image quality and portability.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files

Olympus SP-620 UZ Sports photography advice

A reasonable sports photography rating of 48 means the Olympus SP-620 UZ is somewhat acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera needs to have great focusing plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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excellent zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus

Olympus SP-620 UZ as a Travel photography camera

Weight is pretty important in choosing a camera for travel. Over-all, the Olympus SP-620 UZ gets a above average 61 for a travelling camera which makes it a good pick to buy for your vacations.

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megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (525mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)

Olympus SP-620 UZ Landscape photography details

If you find yourself planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most vital factor will be image quality. The Olympus SP-620 UZ and it's lousy rating of 41 for a landscape camera is just not acceptable in the current marketplace.

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reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse function

Vlogging with Olympus SP-620 UZ

A vlogging camera should really come with a articulating display, microphone port and preferably IBIS. Considering all things, the Olympus SP-620 UZ is just not acceptable for vlogging as it comes to a lousy score of 28.

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decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack

Olympus SP-620 UZ Alternatives

If you are trying to find alternatives to the SP-620 UZ, here is a collection of the highest placed cameras that fall under the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line chart below shows you a summary of the SP-620 UZ compared to it's top scored rivals shown above.

Here are a handful of other cameras you may see as alternative options. To check out a detailed comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Olympus
Model type
Olympus SP-620 UZ
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched
2012-01-10
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Processor Chip
TruePic III+
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW images
Max native ISO
3200
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-525mm (21.0x)
Max aperture
f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing distance
1cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Type of display
Fixed Type
Display size
3 inches
Display resolution
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology
TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
4 secs
Max shutter speed
1/1500 secs
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
6.00 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution
1280x720
Video file format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
435g (0.96 pounds)
Dimensions
110 x 74 x 74mm (4.3" x 2.9" x 2.9")
Other
Battery ID
4 x AA
Self timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
One
Cost at release
$199