Updated (July, 2011): Compare the Olympus SP-810 UZ vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Olympus SP-800 UZ

59

Reasons to buy the Olympus SP-800 UZ

Zoom
Great zoom
30x
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
10,000 ISO
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

55

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Battery life
Great battery life
470 shots
Weight
Light-weight
367 g
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital

differences

Advantages of the Olympus SP-800 UZ

Zoom Much more zoom 30x vs 18x
Help
Around 3x more zoom
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
Around 4.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The SP-800 UZ's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 10,000 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The SP-800 UZ's boost ISO is 0.6 f-stops better
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $378.81 vs $560.83
Help
The best price we've seen is $182 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Olympus SP-800 UZ Learn more about
the Olympus SP-800 UZ

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Wide angle Better wide angle 27 mm vs 28 mm
Help
Almost the same
Size Smaller 118x76x89 mm vs 110x90x91 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 1/4s
Help
240x longer exposures
Weight Lighter 367 g vs 455 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ38
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Olympus SP-800 UZ Olympus SP-800 UZ
59 vs 55
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus SP-800 UZ.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Olympus SP-800 UZ or the Panasonic DMC-FZ38,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Zoom Great zoom Help
SP-800 UZ:30x
DMC-FZ38:18x
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Lowest price Very expensive Help
SP-800 UZ:$378.81
DMC-FZ38:$560.83
Thickness Quite thick Help
SP-800 UZ:3.6"
DMC-FZ38:3.5"
Weight Heavy Help
SP-800 UZ:455 g
DMC-FZ38:367 g
Size Large Help
SP-800 UZ:110x90x91 mm
DMC-FZ38:118x76x89 mm
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weight Light weight Help
SP-800 UZ:455 g
DMC-FZ38:367 g
External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
SP-800 UZ:28 mm
DMC-FZ38:27 mm

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $215

Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Fujifilm FinePix S4050

Fujifilm FinePix S4050

Super zoom

Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$704 - $916 body only

$731 - $874 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier

Olympus SP-800 UZ Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Samsung Pro815

Samsung Pro815

Pro digicam

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Screen size Much larger screen
Zoom Much less zoom
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Olympus SP-810 UZ

Olympus SP-810 UZ

Super zoom

$269

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly slower
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Size Larger

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$495 - $500

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Larger
Battery life Shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Super zoom

$285

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Faster video autofocus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports RAW No RAW support
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Super zoom

$136 - $151

Lowest price Much cheaper
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Weight Heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Super zoom

$366 - $450

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Zoom More zoom
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Size Slightly larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Super zoom

$611

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Size Larger

appearance

Olympus SP-800 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Olympus SP-800 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
Olympus SP-800 UZ Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

discussion

Showing 0 comments