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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
41
Overall
39

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 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
  • Announced November 2011
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic SZ7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and SZ7 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-PM1 was brought out at a similar time to the SZ7 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-PM1 matches up versus the SZ7 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic SZ7

 E-PM1 SZ7 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Olympus E-PM1

 SZ7 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic SZ7

 E-PM1 SZ7 
ReleasedNovember 2011January 2012Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kSame display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys physical 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) and the Panasonic SZ7 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic SZ7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the SZ7.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and SZ7 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through technical specs. The picture here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and SZ7.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-PM1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic SZ7 will provide more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography features
Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography features
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
34
good megapixels (14MP)
features face detect focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
Street photography with Panasonic SZ7
75
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (133 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Sports photography information
49
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of phase detect AF
44
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Travel photography information
45
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
70
lighter than others (133g)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography factors
65
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ7
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have microphone jack
35
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (133 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no microphone support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic SZ7
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-11-23 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 4cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265g (0.58 pounds) 133g (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 220 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $499 $199