Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic SZ3

Below is a complete review of the Olympus E-M5 II versus Panasonic SZ3, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the SZ3 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 II was brought out 2 years later than the SZ3 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-M5 II scores vs the SZ3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M5 II & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M5 II Gallery & Panasonic SZ3 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 II comes with physical measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Panasonic SZ3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 II against the SZ3.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and SZ3 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Typically, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The photograph underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and SZ3.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have the same megapixel count albeit different sensor measurements. The E-M5 II contains the bigger sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field easier. The more modern E-M5 II should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.