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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36
Olympus SZ-10 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
Portability
82
Imaging
46
Features
50
Overall
47

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released February 2011
Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic G2
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic G1, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-10 (14MP) and the G1 (12MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-10 (1/2.3") and G1 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor sizing.

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The SZ-10 was revealed 2 years later than the G1 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief summary of how the SZ-10 scores vs the G1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Panasonic G1

 SZ-10 G1 
LaunchedFebruary 2011January 2009Fresher by 25 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Olympus SZ-10

 G1 SZ-10 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic G1

 SZ-10 G1 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-10 features outside dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Panasonic G1 has sizing of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs).

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Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ-10 and the G1.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-10 and G1 is 90 and 82 respectively.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading technical specs. The photograph here might give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-10 and G1.

As you have seen, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The SZ-10 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus SZ-10 will offer extra detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger SZ-10 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic G1 Portrait photography factors
33
good resolution (14MP)
offers face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
57
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Street photography features
Panasonic G1 Street photography features
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (215g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
72
screen articulates
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-10
Sports photography with Panasonic G1
40
excellent zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
33
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
Travel photography with Panasonic G1
65
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
great zoom (504mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
62
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic G1 as a Landscape photography camera
40
quite wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery power (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
57
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-10 Vlogging factors
Panasonic G1 Vlogging factors
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
18
can't shoot video
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Olympus SZ-10 vs Panasonic G1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-10 and Panasonic G1
 Olympus SZ-10Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2011-02-08 2009-01-19
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 28-504mm (18.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-4.4 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.10 m 10.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 215 gr (0.47 lb) 360 gr (0.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 53
DXO Color Depth score not tested 21.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.3
DXO Low light score not tested 463
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 330 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $300 $0