Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1

Lets look a little more closely at the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic SZ1, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-600 (12MP) and SZ1 (16MP) and the E-600 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-600 was introduced 3 years earlier than the SZ1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-600 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-600 grades vs the SZ1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-600 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-600 Gallery and Panasonic SZ1 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-600 features external dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ1 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic SZ1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-600 vs the SZ1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-600 and SZ1 is 71 and 95 respectively.

Usually, it's tough to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over technical specs. The picture here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-600 and SZ1.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-600 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic SZ1 will offer greater detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-600 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.