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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released May 2010
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 3 years prior to the SZ5 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL1 matches up versus the SZ5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic SZ5

 E-PL1 SZ5 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus E-PL1

 SZ5 E-PL1 
LaunchedJuly 2012May 2010Fresher by 26 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic SZ5

 E-PL1 SZ5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 features outside dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL1 versus the SZ5.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and SZ5 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL1 and SZ5.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PL1 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic SZ5 will resolve greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos way more aggressively. The older E-PL1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
34
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography features
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (136g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography features
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery life (290 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
70
lighter than others (136g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography info
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen is small (2.7")
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (290 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
42
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL1
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
does not have a selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
32
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
lighter than others (136g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-05-17 2012-07-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Truepic V -
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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 lb) 136g (0.30 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 pictures 250 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $288 $195