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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Announced May 2010
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL1 (12MP) and SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") posses different sensor size.

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The E-PL1 was unveiled 3 years prior to the SZ-16 iHS and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-PL1 matches up vs the SZ-16 iHS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PL1 SZ-16 iHS 
Manual focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus E-PL1

 SZ-16 iHS E-PL1 
ReleasedJanuary 2013May 2010Fresher by 32 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PL1 SZ-16 iHS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL1 enjoys external dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has sizing of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PL1 compared to the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and SZ-16 iHS is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing simply by researching technical specs. The photograph here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and SZ-16 iHS.

As you can tell, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will render more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The older E-PL1 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography features
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography features
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
35
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL1
Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography advice
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
bad battery (290 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery (290 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery life (220 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
screen is small (2.7 inch)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (290 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
41
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
bad battery life (220 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging advice
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging advice
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic port
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-05-17 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 10.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 334g (0.74 lbs) 226g (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 shots 220 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $288 $230