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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released July 2011
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Olympus SZ-11 and Panasonic SZ5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-11 was released 11 months before the SZ5 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a quick summation of how the SZ-11 scores vs the SZ5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Panasonic SZ5

 SZ-11 SZ5 
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus SZ-11

 SZ5 SZ-11 
LaunchedJuly 2012July 2011More recent by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Panasonic SZ5

 SZ-11 SZ5 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-11 comes with physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has sizing of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-11 and Panasonic SZ5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the SZ-11 against the SZ5.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-11 and SZ5 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing specs. The photograph here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-11 and SZ5.

All in all, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size and the exact same megapixels so you should expect comparable quality of pictures though you should consider the production date of the cameras into account. The older SZ-11 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-11
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
33
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
34
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography details
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography details
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (136g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography features
43
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
supports tracking focus
low fps (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
lighter than average (136 grams)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography factors
40
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery pack (200 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging information
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
lighter than average (136 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus SZ-11Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-07-27 2012-07-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 136 gr (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 shots 250 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $253 $195