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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
71 Imaging
52 Features
85 Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93 Imaging
40 Features
34 Overall
37

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
35
 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
77
 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
69
 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
72
 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)
41
 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
Photography Glossary
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
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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