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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-P3
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the SZ3 (16MP) is very comparable but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-P5 was unveiled 9 months after the SZ3 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-P5 matches up against the SZ3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Panasonic SZ3

 E-P5 SZ3 
RevealedOctober 2013January 2013Newer by 9 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus E-P5

 SZ3 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ3

 E-P5 SZ3 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-P5 enjoys outside dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") and a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ3 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 change based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-P5 vs the SZ3.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P5 and SZ3 is 85 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions only by going through specifications. The image below might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P5 and SZ3.

Plainly, both of the cameras provide the same megapixel count but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-P5 offers the larger sensor which should make achieving shallow DOF simpler. The newer E-P5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/320 seconds)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
30
resolution is good (16MP)
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography info
78
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
heavier than competition (420 grams)
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography info
68
boasts focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
heavier than competition (420g)
display is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than others in class (126g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
39
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-P5
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
33
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
heavier than competition (420g)
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus PEN E-P5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-10-03 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (ISO 100) 4.10 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, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420 gr (0.93 pounds) 126 gr (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 250 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $389 $150