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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 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
  • Revealed January 2013
Panasonic FS25
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 148g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic FS25, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and FS25 (12MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was unveiled 4 years later than the FS25 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up versus the FS25 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic FS25

 SZ-16 iHS FS25 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2009Fresher by 49 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS25 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 FS25 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FS25

 SZ-16 iHS FS25 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS enjoys outer dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FS25 has dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 148 grams (0.33 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic FS25 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the FS25.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and FS25 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through specs. The photograph underneath will provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and FS25.

All in all, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to give greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher SZ-16 iHS provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography details
Panasonic FS25 Portrait photography details
35
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
26
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography factors
Panasonic FS25 Street photography factors
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (226g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Sports photography with Panasonic FS25
42
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography features
Panasonic FS25 Travel photography features
65
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (600mm)
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Landscape photography with Panasonic FS25
41
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
32
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS25 as a Vlogging camera
31
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than others in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic support
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FS25
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS25
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-01-08 2009-01-27
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 29-145mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226g (0.50 lb) 148g (0.33 lb)
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 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 220 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $230 $230