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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Launched January 2016
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2012
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic SZ1, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and SZ1 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was launched 4 years later than the SZ1 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summary of how the PEN-F scores against the SZ1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic SZ1

 PEN-F SZ1 
ReleasedJanuary 2016January 2012More recent by 50 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Olympus PEN-F

 SZ1 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic SZ1

 PEN-F SZ1 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F offers exterior dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ1 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Olympus PEN-F versus Panasonic SZ1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the PEN-F and the SZ1.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and SZ1 is 84 and 95 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing specs. The graphic here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the PEN-F and SZ1.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F due to its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus PEN-F will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The younger PEN-F will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ1
75
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
34
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus PEN-F
Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
84
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (131 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography details
Panasonic SZ1 Sports photography details
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
not so great battery power (330 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography features
75
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (330 CIPA)
70
lighter than others in class (131 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography info
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
not so great battery power (330 per charge)
43
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging info
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging info
78
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
32
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (131g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic SZ1
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2016-01-27 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lbs) 131 grams (0.29 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images 250 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $1,000 $179