Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5
85 Imaging
52 Features
76 Overall
61


95 Imaging
37 Features
34 Overall
35
Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- 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
- Revealed October 2013
- Replaced the Olympus E-P3
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
- Revealed July 2012

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview
In this article, we will be looking at the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

The E-P5 was introduced 15 months after the SZ5 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.
Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-P5 matches up against the SZ5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-P5 Gallery & Panasonic SZ5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Panasonic SZ5
E-P5 | SZ5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | October 2013 | ![]() | July 2012 | More modern by 15 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer screen (+807k dot) |
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus E-P5
SZ5 | E-P5 |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ5
E-P5 | SZ5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen size |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen |
Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison
In case you're going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-P5 has physical measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has measurements of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).
See the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-P5 compared to the SZ5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P5 and SZ5 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it can be hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizes purely by checking out specifications. The pic here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-P5 and SZ5.
Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-P5 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-P5 will provide more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern E-P5 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications
Olympus PEN E-P5 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model type | Olympus PEN E-P5 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Revealed | 2013-10-03 | 2012-07-18 |
Physical type | 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 surface area | 224.9mm² | 27.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4320 x 3240 |
Highest native ISO | 25600 | 1600 |
Highest enhanced ISO | - | 6400 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 35 | 23 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | - | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/3.1-5.9 |
Macro focusing distance | - | 5cm |
Amount of lenses | 107 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Tilting | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Resolution of display | 1,037 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Display tech | 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen | TFT Screen LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 seconds | 8 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shutter rate | 9.0 frames per sec | 2.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 7.00 m (ISO 100) | 5.60 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | 1/320 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) | 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video file format | H.264 | MPEG-4 |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 420 grams (0.93 lb) | 136 grams (0.30 lb) |
Dimensions | 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") | 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall 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 images | 250 images |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 secs) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail pricing | $389 | $195 |