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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2014
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL6
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Introduced July 2012
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Here is a thorough overview of the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was brought out 2 years later than the SZ5 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL7 matches up vs the SZ5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Panasonic SZ5

 E-PL7 SZ5 
IntroducedSeptember 2014July 2012Fresher by 26 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus E-PL7

 SZ5 E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic SZ5

 E-PL7 SZ5 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL7 features external dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ5 has sizing of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PL7 against the SZ5.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL7 and SZ5 is 86 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing purely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL7 and SZ5.

As you can see, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PL7 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL7 will give extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The fresher E-PL7 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
34
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Street photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography factors
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL7
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
85
provides focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
70
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
42
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Vlogging features
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging features
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
32
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
lighter than others in class (136 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-09-01 2012-07-18
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 357 gr (0.79 pounds) 136 gr (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 250 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $499 $195