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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1s front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1s
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced November 2010
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL1
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PL2
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
  • Released January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic SZ3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the E-PL1s (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the E-PL1s (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL1s was brought out 3 years prior to the SZ3 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL1s being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-PL1s matches up vs the SZ3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1s over the Panasonic SZ3

 E-PL1s SZ3 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus E-PL1s

 SZ3 E-PL1s 
ReleasedJanuary 2013November 2010More recent by 26 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic SZ3

 E-PL1s SZ3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension2.7"2.7"Identical display sizing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1s features exterior measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL1s versus Panasonic SZ3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1s vs the SZ3.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1s and SZ3 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements merely by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1s and SZ3.

Clearly, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL1s because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic SZ3 will resolve greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PL1s is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography info
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
30
good resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Street photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography info
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography info
44
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
41
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
includes tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL1s
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (290 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than others in class (126g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Landscape photography features
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography features
55
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
small screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery power (290 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
39
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1s Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging information
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic support
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (126 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone support
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Olympus E-PL1s vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1s and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus PEN E-PL1sPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL1s Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-11-16 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 4.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 334 gr (0.74 pounds) 126 gr (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos 250 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $599 $150