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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus SH-50 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Olympus SH-50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 269g - 112 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released January 2013
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced July 2012
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic SZ5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-50 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is relatively well matched and they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-50 was launched 6 months later than the SZ5 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SH-50 matches up against the SZ5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-50 over the Panasonic SZ5

 SH-50 SZ5 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus SH-50

 SZ5 SH-50 

Common features in the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic SZ5

 SH-50 SZ5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013July 2012Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus SH-50 features outside measurements of 112mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic SZ5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SH-50 versus the SZ5.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SH-50 and SZ5 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual below will provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SH-50 and SZ5.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Olympus SH-50 to give you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively.

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography advice
44
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
34
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus SH-50 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Street photography camera
64
image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than average in class (269 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (136 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography factors
48
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-50
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
69
lighter than average in class (269g)
has focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
lighter than competitors in class (136 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography factors
49
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-50 Vlogging advice
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging advice
34
rather wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (269 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
32
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus SH-50 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-50 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus SH-50Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SH-50 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-01-08 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 269 grams (0.59 lbs) 136 grams (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 63 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.7") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 250 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, Pet Auto Shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $300 $195