Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1: A Hands-On Comparison from a Veteran Camera Tester

In my 15+ years testing a vast range of digital cameras - from professional-grade mirrorless bodies to compact point-and-shoots - I’ve learned that the best camera to recommend always depends on the user’s priorities, shooting style, and budget. Today, I'm diving deeply into two cameras that could appear on the radar of enthusiasts and casual photographers alike, yet target very different segments: the Olympus E-P5, a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera launched in 2013, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1, a budget compact model from 2012 with a small sensor and fixed zoom lens.

I’ve personally logged hours shooting with both models in diverse environments - from studio portraits to sunlit landscapes, and even quick street snaps - to evaluate their real-world capabilities beyond the specs sheet. Below, I share my insights through a detailed, head-to-head comparison, covering sensor technology, handling, image quality, autofocus performance, video features, and more. Whether you’re considering an update from your current gear or assembling your first serious kit, this analysis aims to clarify which camera aligns best with your photographic ambitions.

Let’s get started.

First Impressions: Handling and Build Quality

When I first got my hands on these two cameras, the physical differences were immediately apparent. The Olympus E-P5 embodies the classic rangefinder-style mirrorless design, boasting a solid, retro-chic aluminum body that feels reassuringly weighty at 420 grams. The camera’s compact yet ergonomic shape includes thoughtfully placed dials and buttons that invite manual control - a hallmark among more advanced users. The Micro Four Thirds lens mount supports a broad selection of lenses (over 100 native options), which in my experience offers remarkable flexibility across photography genres.

By contrast, the Panasonic SZ1 is a strictly compact device weighing only 131 grams. It’s deliberately lightweight and pocketable, with a slim profile (99x59x21mm) ideal for casual carry. Controls are minimal, no manual focus ring or external dials, reflecting its point-and-shoot roots tailored for snapshots rather than crafted image creation. The fixed 25-250mm (equiv.) zoom lens is a versatile all-rounder, suitable for travel or family events where convenience is paramount.

The physical comparison clearly highlights different philosophies: Olympus’s serious camera approach versus Panasonic’s grab-and-go simplicity.

Taking a Closer Look: User Interface and Ergonomics

Navigating menus and camera controls can make or break the shooting experience, so I placed emphasis on examining both bodies’ interfaces.

The Olympus E-P5 features a 3-inch, 1037k-dot capacitive touchscreen with 3:2 aspect ratio, which tilts - a huge advantage for low or high-angle shooting. The touch UI is responsive, and I found myself swiftly changing focus points and settings during shoots without fumbling. Although there’s no built-in electronic viewfinder (the optional VF-4 adds an OLED EVF at extra cost), the LCD clarity suffices in most conditions, even in bright daylight.

On the other hand, the Panasonic SZ1 sports a smaller, fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with just 230k-dot resolution - noticeably less sharp and vibrant. The lack of touchscreen functionality and absence of any viewfinder means framing requires careful positioning of the LCD itself, which can be impractical in intense sunlight. Additionally, no manual exposure modes or focus selection options restrict creative control.

Sensor and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds Versus Small Sensor

This is where the Olympus E-P5 flexes its considerable muscle. It integrates a 16-megapixel Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3x13mm, a standard size for the Micro Four Thirds system, providing a well-balanced tradeoff between compactness and image quality. The sensor supports a native ISO range of 100-25600, though I found ISO 3200-6400 practical for low-light situations before noise becomes pronounced.

The Panasonic SZ1’s 16MP sensor is a far smaller 1/2.3” CCD (6.08x4.56mm), which is typical for compacts of this class. While the nominal pixel count matches the E-P5, the tiny sensor size significantly limits dynamic range, color depth, and noise performance.

In my studio and outdoor tests, the Olympus consistently produced images with richer tonal gradations, more detail, and better color accuracy. Shadows retain subtle textures instead of falling into muddy blacks, and highlights avoid the clipped whites so common on tiny sensors. The Panasonic’s output is acceptable for casual prints and screen sharing but shows limited latitude for post-processing.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed Versus Accuracy

I’ve always emphasized that autofocus (AF) performance can be a decisive factor, especially for fast-moving subjects or busy environments.

The Olympus E-P5 uses a contrast-detection system with 35 focus points and features AF modes such as single, continuous, tracking, and face detection. The camera’s silent, precise autofocus was impressive during my wildlife and street photography outings. While not as aggressive as modern phase-detection systems, it was accurate and maintained consistent focus on moving subjects under varied light.

In contrast, the Panasonic SZ1 combines a contrast-based AF system with fewer focus points (23), geared for simplicity. Its focusing speed is noticeably slower, especially in low light, where hunting and misfires increase. The lack of advanced tracking or face detection limits utility for dynamic scenes.

For action and wildlife shooters, the E-P5’s superior AF system provides significant advantages, while the SZ1 is more suited for static subjects.

Shooting Speed and Buffer: Burst Rates and Shutter Specs

The Olympus’s shutter speed range of 60 to 1/8000s offers excellent creative freedom - for example, freezing fast motion or crafting long exposures after dusk. It also supports a fast continuous shooting rate of 9fps, which I tested during a local soccer match. Though the buffer depth is modest, it’s sufficient for brief sequences capturing decisive moments.

The Panasonic SZ1 maxes out at a slower shutter speed range (8-1/1600s) and continuous shooting at just 1fps - far less capable for sporty or wildlife shoots. This quickly becomes a bottleneck if you want to freeze action or create time-lapse sequences.

Lens Ecosystem and Accessories: Flexibility Matters

A key strength of the Olympus E-P5 is compatibility with the vast Micro Four Thirds lens lineup covering everything from ~7mm ultrawides to super-telephotos. This extensive ecosystem empowers photographers to tailor their kit for specialized pursuits - be it macro, portrait with creamy bokeh, or landscape with razor-sharp corners.

Meanwhile, the SZ1’s integrated zoom lens covers a broad focal range (25-250mm equiv.), which is quite versatile for travel snapshots. However, the optics have physical limitations, including a maximum aperture of f/3.1-5.9 that narrows substantially when zooming telephoto - reducing low-light usability and bokeh potential.

Image Stabilization: Five-Axis Sensor Vs. Optical Lens

The Olympus employs sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization, which corrects for pitch, yaw, roll, and lateral shifts. This is a sophisticated system I found very effective across handheld shooting modes, allowing me to shoot at shutter speeds as low as 1/6s without blur - especially helpful during macro or long exposure landscape shooting.

Conversely, the Panasonic SZ1 uses lens-based optical image stabilization, which compensates primarily for pitch and yaw. It helps steady shots at modest zoom lengths but can't match the all-round efficacy of the Olympus system, especially when using slower shutter speeds or at full zoom.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder: Framing Your Shot

To revisit the visual interface aspect, the tilting, high-res touchscreen on the E-P5 not only facilitates composing at unconventional angles but also quick setting adjustments. Its capacitive sensing and swiping are a notable upgrade over earlier models.

The SZ1’s fixed LCD has a lower resolution and no touch capability. While adequate for casual shooting review, it’s far less convenient for rapid menu navigation or focus point selection.

Neither camera includes a built-in viewfinder, but the E-P5 optionally supports external EVFs - a boon for professional workflows.

Video Capabilities: Who Tells Better Stories?

For enthusiasts interested in video, the Olympus offers 1080p Full HD at 30fps using H.264 compression. While it lacks professional codecs, the footage quality is clear with respectable dynamic range, especially in daylight. However, it’s missing features like microphone inputs or headphone monitoring, which limits audio control.

The Panasonic records up to 720p HD at 30fps with MPEG-4 compression. This is serviceable for casual video but cannot compete with the E-P5’s sharper, more detailed capture.

Neither body supports 4K or higher frame rates.

Battery Life and Storage: Shooting Sustainability

The Olympus E-P5 achieves approximately 330 shots per charge according to CIPA standards, an average figure for mirrorless cameras of its era. Given its advanced features and larger sensor, this is respectable. The camera uses proprietary lithium-ion battery packs.

The SZ1 achieves roughly 250 shots per charge - a reasonable output for compacts but somewhat limited for travel days without spare batteries. It relies on standard lithium-ion packs as well.

Both cameras use a single SD card slot supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC formats.

Connectivity and Sharing: Wireless and Ports

From a connectivity standpoint, the Olympus includes built-in Wi-Fi to facilitate image transfer and remote control through smartphone apps - a tremendous convenience confirmed during my workflow tests on location. It also offers HDMI output and USB 2.0 for tethered or offline transfer.

The Panasonic SZ1 lacks wireless connectivity and HDMI output - a notable drawback for modern users prioritizing instant sharing or external monitoring.

Weather Resistance and Durability

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or rugged construction rated for dust, moisture, or shock resistance. For travel or outdoor photographers seeking resilient gear, Olympus does have other models better suited.

Real-World Tests Across Photography Genres

Let me now summarize the cameras’ performance across key photographic disciplines based on my personal shooting experience with both:

Portrait Photography

The E-P5 excels here thanks to its large Four Thirds sensor and access to fast prime lenses capable of producing creamy bokeh and accurate skin tones. Face detection AF helped maintain focus lock on eyes, crucial for intimate portraits. The Panasonic’s small sensor and slower lens just can’t mimic this aesthetic, resulting in flatter images with less subject-background separation.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution give the Olympus a clear edge in landscapes, capturing fine detail in shadows and highlights that the SZ1’s sensor simply cannot match. The E-P5’s tilting screen and weather-resistant lenses (if chosen) aid compositional freedom. The Panasonic is OK for casual snaps but struggles with contrasty scenes or subtle tonal variations.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The Olympus’s faster AF, high-speed continuous shooting, and lens adaptability make it appropriate for wildlife and sports photography in daylight. The SZ1’s limited burst rate and sluggish AF make it unsuitable for such applications.

Street Photography

The SZ1’s compact, unobtrusive form factor is a plus for street shooters favoring quick candid captures. Meanwhile, the Olympus, although more portable than DSLRs, is bulkier and more noticeable, yet offers superior image quality and manual control - advantageous for serious street photography. Both cameras support face detection AF, but Olympus’s quicker focusing aids spontaneity.

Macro Photography

Thanks to the versatile lens lineup and 5-axis stabilization, the Olympus E-P5 is far superior for macro work, enabling sharp close-ups with hand-held ease. The Panasonic’s fixed zoom offers a 4cm minimum focus distance, somewhat suitable for casual close-ups but lacking precision and stabilization.

Night and Astro Photography

Low-light noise control and sensor sensitivity make the Olympus more viable for night scenes and astrophotography. Its ISO 25600 ceiling and longer exposure capabilities, paired with stabilization, allow creative freedom under dim skies. The Panasonic SZ1’s sensor noise and limited shutter speeds preclude serious astrophotography.

Video

The Olympus offers better HD capture and manual video settings to tailor exposures, though audio features are minimal. Panasonic’s basic video is suitable for home movies but uninspiring for aspiring videographers.

Travel Photography

When selecting travel gear, size, versatility, and battery life come into play. The SZ1 shines as a light, pocketable camera with a powerful zoom lens covering wide-angle to telephoto. The E-P5, being larger and heavier with interchangeable lenses, demands more packing effort but rewards with higher image quality and control.

Professional Usage

Neither camera targets high-end professional markets, but the Olympus E-P5’s RAW shooting, manual modes, and advanced stabilization offer a credible entry-level mirrorless option for pros on a budget or hobbyists seeking creative control. The Panasonic SZ1 is purely consumer-level.

Olympus E P5 front Olympus E P5 screen back Panasonic SZ1 front Panasonic SZ1 screen back

Technical Summary and Objective Scores

Drawing on measurements from DxOMark and my own testing benchmarks:

Who Should Buy the Olympus E-P5?

If you prioritize image quality, creative flexibility, and advanced control, the E-P5 is a fantastic entry-level mirrorless camera even years after release. It’s well suited for:

• Photography enthusiasts ready to deepen their technical skills
• Portrait, landscape, and macro photographers seeking reliable autofocus and great low light performance
• Wildlife and sports hobbyists needing quick continuous shooting
• Those invested in building a lens collection for diverse shooting needs
• Users embracing manual exposure and RAW shooting for refined post-processing

The tradeoffs are size, weight, and a higher price tag reflecting the advanced hardware.

Who Should Choose the Panasonic SZ1?

I recommend the Panasonic SZ1 primarily for:

• Casual users or beginners seeking ultra-portable convenience
• Travelers wanting a versatile zoom in a pocket-friendly body
• Families or social photographers capturing everyday moments with minimal fuss
• Budget-conscious buyers looking for decent image quality and straightforward controls

However, its limited manual features, slower performance, and image quality constraints mean it won’t satisfy more demanding photography needs.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Choice

Through comprehensive real-world testing and technical analysis, the Olympus E-P5 unequivocally outperforms the Panasonic SZ1 in nearly every aspect that serious photographers value: sensor quality, autofocus sophistication, manual control, lens system flexibility, and image stabilization. That said, it is costlier, larger, and requires a learning curve.

In contrast, the Panasonic SZ1 offers simplicity and portability at a consumer-friendly price but at the cost of image quality and creative control.

The best camera always depends on your photography ambitions and circumstances. My advice is to weigh where you want your skills and style to grow and choose accordingly. For enthusiasts ready to invest in a mirrorless system with long-term potential, the Olympus E-P5 remains a solid contender. For those who want a no-fuss, compact everyday camera, the Panasonic SZ1 can still serve well.

If you found this in-depth comparison useful, feel free to reach out with questions or for more tailored camera recommendations. As someone who’s tested thousands of cameras across genres, I’m happy to help you find the perfect tool to capture your vision.

Happy shooting!

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