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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
58
Imaging
47
Features
76
Overall
58
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-3
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic SZ3, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-5 was released 23 months earlier than the SZ3 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-5 grades vs the SZ3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic SZ3

 E-5 SZ3 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus E-5

 SZ3 E-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2013February 2011Fresher by 23 months

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic SZ3

 E-5 SZ3 
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 has got outside dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic SZ3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-5 against the SZ3.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and SZ3 is 58 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specifications. The graphic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and SZ3.

Plainly, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ3 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
30
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography advice
71
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography details
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-5
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
56
environment proof
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
71
lighter than others (126g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ3
64
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
38
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging info
64
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
has external microphone support
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-02-03 2013-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 23
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 126 gr (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 250 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual Single
Cost at launch $1,700 $150