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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Olympus SZ-11 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PM2
Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released July 2011
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Olympus SZ-11, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are manufactured by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the SZ-11 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-11 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 4 months later than the SZ-11 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-PM1 grades against the SZ-11 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus SZ-11

 E-PM1 SZ-11 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Olympus E-PM1

 SZ-11 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SZ-11

 E-PM1 SZ-11 
ReleasedNovember 2011July 2011Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 features outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-11 has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Olympus SZ-11 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the SZ-11.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and SZ-11 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out specifications. The visual here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and SZ-11.

Plainly, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SZ-11 will show more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography factors
Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography factors
60
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
Street photography with Olympus SZ-11
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography highlights
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect AF
43
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-11
45
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography info
Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography info
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery life (200 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging advice
Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging advice
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic support
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-11 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SZ-11
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Olympus SZ-11
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus SZ-11
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-11-23 2011-07-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 200 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail price $499 $253