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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic SZ3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 13 months earlier than the SZ3 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a quick view of how the E-PM1 grades versus the SZ3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic SZ3

 E-PM1 SZ3 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus E-PM1

 SZ3 E-PM1 
ReleasedJanuary 2013November 2011More modern by 13 months

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic SZ3

 E-PM1 SZ3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera often, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 features external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic SZ3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 and the SZ3.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and SZ3 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by checking out specs. The image underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and SZ3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic SZ3 will show more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography advice
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
30
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography highlights
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
has no phase detect autofocus
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography advice
45
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
71
lighter than others (126g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ3
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
39
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging factors
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no microphone jack
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (126 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-11-23 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI -
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 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 distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 126 grams (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 shots 250 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $499 $150