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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
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
  • Introduced January 2013
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

Below, we are matching up the Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) is very well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was introduced 5 months after the SZ-16 iHS and they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the E-PM2 scores against the SZ-16 iHS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PM2 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Olympus E-PM2

 SZ-16 iHS E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 E-PM2 SZ-16 iHS 
IntroducedMay 2013January 2013Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 has outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-16 iHS has specifications of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PM2 and the SZ-16 iHS.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and SZ-16 iHS is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The pic below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and SZ-16 iHS.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras posses the exact same megapixels but not the same sensor sizes. The E-PM2 provides the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography info
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
35
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography information
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
42
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography information
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography information
66
has touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
41
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
31
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-05-21 2013-01-08
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) -
Flash options 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
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 269g (0.59 pounds) 226g (0.50 pounds)
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 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 220 photographs
Style of battery 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 feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $448 $230