Clicky

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic SZ1
(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
  • Released January 2012
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is pretty close but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

The E-M1 was manufactured 22 months later than the SZ1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-M1 matches up versus the SZ1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic SZ1

 E-M1 SZ1 
ReleasedOctober 2013January 2012More recent by 22 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus E-M1

 SZ1 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic SZ1

 E-M1 SZ1 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 offers outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ1 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M1 vs the SZ1.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and SZ1 is 71 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements merely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and SZ1.

As you can see, both the cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The E-M1 provides the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult. The more recent E-M1 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320s)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography factors
78
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports focus via touch
environment proofing
lighter than competition (497 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography information
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography information
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery life (350 shots)
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ1
65
lighter than competition (497g)
environment proofing
supports focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than competition (131g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography highlights
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery life (350 shots)
43
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
lighter than competition (497 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
lighter than competition (131 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic SZ1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-10-28 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII -
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, 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
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497g (1.10 lb) 131g (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 250 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $799 $179