Olympus SZ-20 review

We look under the hood of Olympus's latest super-zoom

Olympus SZ-20
It's a touch chubbier than the average point-and-shoot

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Macro

Although the SZ-20 needs at least 10cm to focus on macro subjects, the results are actually impressive. If we were to be critical however a growing number of compacts now allow users to get as close as 1cm from the subject; thus Olympus needs to catch up, and fast.

Sparkle

One of our favourite filters is the 'Sparkle' option which adds a star burst effect to fragments of light. This is particularly impressive when shooting subjects such as flowers, windows and water on sunny days

Watercolour

When capturing images with the compact in Watercolour filter, the results can appear rather weak; with subjects lacking definition and variance in colour. However once uploaded onto the computer users can make out a greater level of detail and will notice colours previously unseen on the LCD

Dodgy panorama

Good panorama

In soft even light – across the expanse of the scene – Smart Panorama is capable of recording well exposed vistas. However if the light changes mid exposure the camera's metering can struggle and as such the results may be unusable. Click to see the full image

Soft filter

The soft filter is ideal for using when capturing macro stills of plants, or portraits of newborns and children

Punk filter

Punk Filter

Pinhole filter

Pin hole filter

Latest in Compact Cameras
Fujfilm GFX 50R
First Fujifilm GFX100RF images leaked in build-up to expected reveal – here’s what they tell us about the unique premium compact camera
Canon PowerShot V1 in user's hands, oudoors with a snowy Japan backdrop
I review cameras for a living, and the new Canon PowerShot V1 could be this year’s vlogging star – here’s why
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III
Canon’s rumored PowerShot V1 point-and-shoot could hit the sensor sweet spot – and be first of two new PowerShots for 2025
Flashback ONE35 redisposable digital camera on a wooden surface
I tested the Flashback ONE35 "re-disposable" camera, and it's a novel idea let down by a shoddy app
Canon compact cameras tipped for a big return with rumored Powershot V1 – and I think that's Canon's most exciting play for 2025
Panasonic Lumix TZ99 point and shoot camera on a bright green / cyan background
The point-and-shoot is back: Panasonic launches new Lumix out of the blue, with iPhone-trouncing 30x optical zoom
Latest in Reviews
MacBook Air 15-inch with M4 chip on a creative's desk with screen open
I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people
Samsung Music Frame on a table beside some books and a vase
I spent six weeks listening to the Samsung Music Frame and it kept missing the beat
GlocalMe KeyTracker
When I tested this global tracker, it trounced the Apple AirTag in so many ways
An AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D on its retail packaging
I've reviewed three generations of 3D V-cache processors, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the best there is
Mac Studio on a desk
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): the ultimate creative workstation
Apple iPad Air 11-inch M3 (2025) Review
I tested the 11-inch iPad Air with M3 for five days, and it stretches the value even further with more power for the same price