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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
85
Imaging
55
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Released February 2018
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Announced January 2015
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ10, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the SZ10 (16MP) is relatively close but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and SZ10 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL9 was revealed 3 years after the SZ10 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-PL9 grades vs the SZ10 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic SZ10

 E-PL9 SZ10 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018January 2015Newer by 38 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Olympus E-PL9

 SZ10 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ10

 E-PL9 SZ10 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 features physical dimensions of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ10 has dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ10 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL9 against the SZ10.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL9 and SZ10 is 85 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The image here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL9 and SZ10.

Clearly, both the cameras feature the identical MP albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 uses the bigger sensor which should make achieving bokeh simpler. The younger E-PL9 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ10 Portrait photography features
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
35
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography highlights
84
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus via touch
70
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (177g)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ10 Sports photography factors
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
34
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.4 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL9
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ10
77
connects via bluetooth
has focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
display is not selfie friendly
67
lighter than competition in class (177g)
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (288mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography highlights
80
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
41
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ10 Vlogging details
35
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
32
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (177 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic SZ10
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2018-02-08 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
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 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 8.6fps 1.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 gr (0.84 lbs) 177 gr (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 350 photos 200 photos
Battery style 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 One One
Retail pricing $599 $200