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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic SZ1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is very comparable but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-P5 was announced 22 months after the SZ1 making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-P5 grades versus the SZ1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Panasonic SZ1

 E-P5 SZ1 
LaunchedOctober 2013January 2012More modern by 22 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus E-P5

 SZ1 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ1

 E-P5 SZ1 
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P5 has outside measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic SZ1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-P5 against the SZ1.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-P5 and SZ1 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by seeing a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-P5 and SZ1.

As you can see, both cameras feature the identical megapixels but different sensor sizes. The E-P5 offers the larger sensor which will make getting shallow DOF less difficult. The more modern E-P5 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography factors
71
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
34
MP count decent (16MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ1 Street photography information
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
more heavy than competitors (420g)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (131 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography advice
68
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
features tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography information
68
includes focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
more heavy than competitors (420 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than competition (131g)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography info
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
43
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging details
33
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (420 grams)
32
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (131g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ1
 Olympus PEN E-P5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-10-03 2012-01-09
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 4cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420 grams (0.93 lb) 131 grams (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 250 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $389 $179