Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-11

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-11, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the SZ-11 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-11 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was launched 10 months after the SZ-11 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-M5 grades against the SZ-11 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M5 & Olympus SZ-11. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M5 Gallery & Olympus SZ-11 Gallery.

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 has exterior 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-11 has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus SZ-11 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-M5 and the SZ-11.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and SZ-11 is 81 and 89 respectively.

Quite often, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The image below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and SZ-11.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 should have an edge in sensor tech.