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Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
82
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 120 x 83 x 47mm
  • Launched August 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M10
  • New Model is Olympus E-M10 III
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Introduced July 2012
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M10 II versus Panasonic SZ5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M10 II (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M10 II (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M10 II was announced 3 years after the SZ5 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-M10 II matches up versus the SZ5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 II over the Panasonic SZ5

 E-M10 II SZ5 
IntroducedAugust 2015July 2012More modern by 38 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus E-M10 II

 SZ5 E-M10 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 II and Panasonic SZ5

 E-M10 II SZ5 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M10 II has outer dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") with a weight of 390 grams (0.86 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M10 II versus Panasonic SZ5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M10 II versus the SZ5.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M10 II and SZ5 is 82 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing specifications. The pic underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M10 II and SZ5.

Plainly, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M10 II having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M10 II will produce greater detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots more aggressively. The more modern E-M10 II is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M10 II
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
72
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
34
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Street photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography information
83
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (136g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Travel photography camera
73
has touch focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
70
lighter than average (136g)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography advice
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
42
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M10 II
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
35
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
32
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than average (136 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 II and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-08-25 2012-07-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.80 m (ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, flash off, 1st-curtain slow sync w/redeye, 1st-curtain slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/30p/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 390 gr (0.86 lb) 136 gr (0.30 lb)
Physical dimensions 120 x 83 x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 842 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images 250 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $499 $195