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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-600 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Olympus E-600
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 515g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Launched August 2009
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-600 over the Panasonic SZ1

 E-600 SZ1 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus E-600

 SZ1 E-600 
IntroducedJanuary 2012August 2009More modern by 28 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic SZ1

 E-600 SZ1 
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

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

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-600 Street photography highlights
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography highlights
76
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (131g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-600 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography features
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery pack (500 per charge)
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-600 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography features
53
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse recording
low battery pack (500 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
70
lighter than average (131 grams)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-600 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography advice
53
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
MP count low (12 megapixels)
low battery pack (500 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
43
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-600
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ1
18
can't record video
32
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than average (131 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic support
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-600 and Panasonic SZ1
 Olympus E-600Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-600 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-30 2012-01-09
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 7 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 4cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4
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 515 gr (1.14 pounds) 131 gr (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 541 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 shots 250 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $179