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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Released January 2013
Panasonic F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic F5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the F5 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was announced about the same time to the F5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the SZ-16 iHS grades vs the F5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic F5

 SZ-16 iHS F5 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 F5 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic F5

 SZ-16 iHS F5 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2013Same generation
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS comes with external dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic F5 has proportions of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic F5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the SZ-16 iHS compared to the F5.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and F5 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and F5.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to provide more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic F5 Portrait photography advice
35
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
29
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography highlights
Panasonic F5 Street photography highlights
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
56
lighter than average in class (121g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic F5 as a Sports photography camera
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
33
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
has tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic F5
65
lighter than average in class (226g)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than average in class (121 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography info
Panasonic F5 Landscape photography info
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging factors
Panasonic F5 Vlogging factors
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
lighter than average in class (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic F5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic F5
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-F5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-01-08 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.2-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 226g (0.50 pounds) 121g (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 220 images 250 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $230 $100