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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Replaced the Olympus E-P3
Panasonic SZ5
(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
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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.

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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.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Panasonic SZ5

 E-P5 SZ5 
RevealedOctober 2013July 2012More modern by 15 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer 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 sizing3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
34
megapixel count good (14MP)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography highlights
78
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than competitors in class (420 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (136g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography features
68
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
has no phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography info
68
offers touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
more heavy than competitors in class (420 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
lighter than competitors (136g)
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
42
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging highlights
33
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (420g)
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
lighter than competitors (136g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus PEN E-P5Panasonic 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