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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL7
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
  • Announced January 2013
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL6 versus Panasonic SZ3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the SZ3 (16MP) is very well matched but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL6 was announced 20 months later than the SZ3 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PL6 matches up versus the SZ3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Panasonic SZ3

 E-PL6 SZ3 
AnnouncedAugust 2014January 2013More recent by 20 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus E-PL6

 SZ3 E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic SZ3

 E-PL6 SZ3 

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL6 comes with outer measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL6 versus Panasonic SZ3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PL6 compared to the SZ3.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL6 and SZ3 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading through technical specs. The visual here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL6 and SZ3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL6 features the larger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field simpler. The newer E-PL6 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
30
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography details
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Travel photography camera
85
offers focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competition (126 grams)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography factors
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
39
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL6
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
79
selfie friendly screen
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external mic port
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-08-01 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 325 grams (0.72 lb) 126 grams (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 250 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $300 $150