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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was manufactured 6 years after the SZ1 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL9 grades against the SZ1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic SZ1

 E-PL9 SZ1 
IntroducedFebruary 2018January 2012More modern by 75 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 SZ1 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ1

 E-PL9 SZ1 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 has outer measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ1 has dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PL9 against the SZ1.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and SZ1 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at technical specs. The picture here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and SZ1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PL9 contains the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier. The fresher E-PL9 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography features
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
34
MP count good (16MP)
features face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Street photography camera
84
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch focus
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131g)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Sports photography camera
69
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography advice
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography advice
77
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
70
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
43
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Vlogging camera
35
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
32
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than competition in class (131g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ1
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2018-02-08 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
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 alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lbs) 131 gr (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 350 pictures 250 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $599 $179