Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1
67 Imaging
61 Features
96 Overall
75


95 Imaging
39 Features
34 Overall
37
Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 4096 x 2160 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
- Introduced February 2020
- Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
- Launched January 2012

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview
The following is a in-depth overview of the Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and SZ1 (16MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

The E-M1 III was released 8 years after the SZ1 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.
Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M1 III scores vs the SZ1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 III Gallery and Panasonic SZ1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Panasonic SZ1
E-M1 III | SZ1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | February 2020 | ![]() | January 2012 | Newer by 99 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial precise focusing | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Screen resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+807k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus E-M1 III
SZ1 | E-M1 III |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic SZ1
E-M1 III | SZ1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same screen measurements |
Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison
If you are looking to travel with your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 III provides outer dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ1 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).
Look at the Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 III compared to the SZ1.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and SZ1 is 67 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by checking a spec sheet. The picture here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 III and SZ1.
Clearly, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 III because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 III will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 III is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model | Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 |
Type | Pro Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Introduced | 2020-02-11 | 2012-01-09 |
Body design | SLR-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | TruePic IX | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 17.4 x 13mm | 6.08 x 4.56mm |
Sensor area | 226.2mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 20 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 5184 x 3888 | 4608 x 3456 |
Highest native ISO | 25600 | 6400 |
Lowest native ISO | 200 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Lowest enhanced ISO | 64 | - |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Number of focus points | 121 | 23 |
Cross focus points | 121 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Maximal aperture | - | f/3.1-5.9 |
Macro focus distance | - | 4cm |
Number of lenses | 107 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of screen | 1,037k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT Color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,360k dot | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.74x | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 secs | 8 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000 secs | 1/1600 secs |
Fastest silent shutter speed | 1/32000 secs | - |
Continuous shutter speed | 60.0fps | 1.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | 5.60 m |
Flash options | Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/250 secs | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 4096x2160 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4 |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 580 gr (1.28 lbs) | 131 gr (0.29 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") | 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light score | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 420 pictures | 250 pictures |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | BLH-1 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Storage slots | 2 | One |
Launch price | $1,800 | $179 |