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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
41
Features
34
Overall
38

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Released October 2013
  • Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Launched January 2015
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the SZ10 (16MP) is very close but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and SZ10 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was unveiled 14 months earlier than the SZ10 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-M1 matches up versus the SZ10 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic SZ10

 E-M1 SZ10 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Olympus E-M1

 SZ10 E-M1 
LaunchedJanuary 2015October 2013More modern by 14 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic SZ10

 E-M1 SZ10 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 comes with outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ10 has dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 against the SZ10.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and SZ10 is 71 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing specs. The image here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and SZ10.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got the exact same MP but different sensor sizes. The E-M1 features the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF easier. The more aged E-M1 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ10 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW files
36
MP count good (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography features
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
environment sealing
lighter than average in class (497g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
70
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (177 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ10 Sports photography highlights
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery power (350 shots)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.4 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ10 Travel photography info
65
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
environment sealing
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
67
lighter than average in class (177 grams)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (288mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery (200 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography factors
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
42
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ10 Vlogging information
36
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone socket
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
32
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (177g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic SZ10
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-10-28 2015-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 1.4 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.20 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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) 177g (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 200 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $799 $200