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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
64
Overall
56

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic GF6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 323g - 111 x 65 x 38mm
  • Released April 2013
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF5
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF7
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 Overview

Below is a complete comparison of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the GF6 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and GF6 (Four Thirds) posses different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-16 iHS was revealed 3 months prior to the GF6 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-16 iHS scores vs the GF6 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic GF6

 SZ-16 iHS GF6 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF6 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 GF6 SZ-16 iHS 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic GF6

 SZ-16 iHS GF6 
ReleasedJanuary 2013April 2013Similar generation
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS offers outer measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic GF6 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 323 grams (0.71 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SZ-16 iHS compared to the GF6.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and GF6 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The graphic here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and GF6.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have the same resolution albeit different sensor measurements. The SZ-16 iHS provides the tinier sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF6 Portrait photography information
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
64
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography advice
Panasonic GF6 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
77
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF6 as a Sports photography camera
42
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (220 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
51
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography features
Panasonic GF6 Travel photography features
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery (220 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
69
comes with touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF6 as a Landscape photography camera
41
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery (220 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
67
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging details
Panasonic GF6 Vlogging details
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
lighter than others (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
32
has touchscreen
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic GF6
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF6
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-01-08 2013-04-08
Body design Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i PsF/30p in NTSC models, 50i PsF/25p on PAL), 1280 x 720p (60i PsF/30p in NTSC models, 50i PsF/25p on PAL), 640 x 480 (30/25fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 323 grams (0.71 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 111 x 65 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 54
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.6
DXO Low light score not tested 622
Other
Battery life 220 photos 340 photos
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, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $230 $326