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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 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
  • Launched September 2012
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Launched January 2015
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

The following is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the SZ10 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and SZ10 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the SZ10 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-PL5 matches up versus the SZ10 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic SZ10

 E-PL5 SZ10 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Olympus E-PL5

 SZ10 E-PL5 
LaunchedJanuary 2015September 2012Newer by 28 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic SZ10

 E-PL5 SZ10 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ10 has measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the SZ10.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and SZ10 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The pic here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL5 and SZ10.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 includes the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The more aged E-PL5 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ10 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
35
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography details
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
70
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (177g)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ10 Sports photography info
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.4 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL5
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ10
75
provides touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
67
lighter than others (177 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (288mm)
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ10
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
41
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery life (200 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ10
78
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of microphone port
32
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
lighter than others (177g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic SZ10
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-09-17 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 1.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 lb) 177g (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 200 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $400 $200