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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic SZ3, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The PEN-F was brought out 3 years later than the SZ3 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a short introduction of how the PEN-F matches up vs the SZ3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic SZ3

 PEN-F SZ3 
LaunchedJanuary 2016January 2013Fresher by 38 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Olympus PEN-F

 SZ3 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic SZ3

 PEN-F SZ3 

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus PEN-F provides exterior measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic SZ3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the PEN-F vs the SZ3.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and SZ3 is 84 and 96 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and SZ3.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The PEN-F because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus PEN-F will provide more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography factors
75
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
30
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography information
84
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography info
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
low battery life (330 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus PEN-F
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
75
has focus via touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
low battery life (330 CIPA)
71
lighter than competition (126 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography information
76
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (330 shots)
39
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging details
78
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic SZ3
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2016-01-27 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
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 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.10 m
Flash modes 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, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lb) 126 grams (0.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 250 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $1,000 $150