Clicky

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Renewed by OM System OM-5
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Released January 2015
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-M5 III versus Panasonic SZ10, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and SZ10 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and SZ10 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The E-M5 III was unveiled 4 years after the SZ10 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-M5 III scores against the SZ10 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic SZ10

 E-M5 III SZ10 
ReleasedOctober 2019January 2015More modern by 59 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 SZ10 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic SZ10

 E-M5 III SZ10 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III has outside measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ10 has proportions of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 III versus Panasonic SZ10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the SZ10.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and SZ10 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through specifications. The picture below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 III and SZ10.

Plainly, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 III having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will produce greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer E-M5 III is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Portrait photography camera
77
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
35
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Street photography with Panasonic SZ10
83
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides focus by touch
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
70
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (177g)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Sports photography camera
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (30.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
bad battery pack (310 shots)
34
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.4 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ10 Travel photography information
77
weather proof
supports bluetooth
provides focus by touch
megapixel count good (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery pack (310 CIPA)
67
lighter than average (177g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery (200 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography details
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
bad battery pack (310 per charge)
41
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery (200 per charge)
no Timelapse recording
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Vlogging camera
84
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
32
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than average (177 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone port
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic SZ10
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2019-10-17 2015-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0 frames/s 1.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414g (0.91 pounds) 177g (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 200 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $1,199 $200