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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

Below, we are comparing the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Olympus. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM1 was released 13 months before the SZ-16 iHS making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PM1 grades versus the SZ-16 iHS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PM1 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus E-PM1

 SZ-16 iHS E-PM1 
ReleasedJanuary 2013November 2011More modern by 13 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PM1 SZ-16 iHS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 features outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PM1 versus the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and SZ-16 iHS is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic here might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and SZ-16 iHS.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will give you extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
35
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography factors
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography factors
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
has no phase detect autofocus
42
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
45
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery (220 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery (220 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (226g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-11-23 2013-01-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 226 grams (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 220 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $499 $230