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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus SZ-10 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Revealed February 2011
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Overview

Below is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus SZ-10, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the SZ-10 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-10 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 was revealed 15 months later than the SZ-10 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-M5 grades against the SZ-10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus SZ-10

 E-M5 SZ-10 
RevealedApril 2012February 2011More recent by 15 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k460kSharper display (+150k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Olympus E-M5

 SZ-10 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus SZ-10

 E-M5 SZ-10 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 has external measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-10 has proportions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus SZ-10 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 and the SZ-10.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and SZ-10 is 81 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The visual below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and SZ-10.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M5 will resolve extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-10
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography features
Olympus SZ-10 Street photography features
82
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
environment sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (215g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography details
Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography details
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
amazing zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-10 as a Travel photography camera
66
environment sealing
offers focus by touch
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
65
lighter than others (215 grams)
good MP (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
long reach (504mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
terrible battery (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-10
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
does not have Time Lapse recording
40
decently wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-10
34
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
31
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than others (215 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus SZ-10
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus SZ-10
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus SZ-10
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-04-30 2011-02-08
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-504mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-4.4
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 610 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425g (0.94 lbs) 215g (0.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 220 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $799 $300