Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-10

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.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Olympus SZ-10. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M5 Gallery and Olympus SZ-10 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.