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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Olympus SZ-10 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2012
Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched February 2011
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Overview

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-10, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the SZ-10 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and SZ-10 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was released 20 months after the SZ-10 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL5 matches up vs the SZ-10 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Olympus SZ-10

 E-PL5 SZ-10 
LaunchedSeptember 2012February 2011Newer by 20 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Olympus E-PL5

 SZ-10 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-10

 E-PL5 SZ-10 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 has got external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-10 has specifications of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-10 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL5 versus the SZ-10.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and SZ-10 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and SZ-10.

As you can see, both of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern E-PL5 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-10 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-10 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
lacks phase detect AF
40
amazing zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
has tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography info
75
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
65
lighter than competition in class (215g)
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
very long zoom (504mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography information
Olympus SZ-10 Landscape photography information
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
40
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging info
Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging info
78
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have mic support
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (215g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Olympus SZ-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Olympus SZ-10
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Olympus SZ-10
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Olympus SZ-10
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-09-17 2011-02-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-504mm (18.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-4.4
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 215g (0.47 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 220 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $400 $300