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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 front
Portability
90
Imaging
53
Features
66
Overall
58

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 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
  • Launched January 2013
Panasonic GF7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF6
  • Successor is Panasonic GF8
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the GF7 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and GF7 (Four Thirds) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The SZ-16 iHS was launched 3 years prior to the GF7 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up versus the GF7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic GF7

 SZ-16 iHS GF7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF7 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 GF7 SZ-16 iHS 
IntroducedFebruary 2015January 2013Newer by 25 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic GF7

 SZ-16 iHS GF7 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has external 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) while the Panasonic GF7 has proportions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the SZ-16 iHS versus the GF7.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ-16 iHS and GF7 is 89 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and GF7.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor dimensions. The SZ-16 iHS contains the tinier sensor which is going to make getting bokeh more challenging. The more aged SZ-16 iHS is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF7 as a Portrait photography camera
35
resolution is good (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
65
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Panasonic GF7
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography details
Panasonic GF7 Sports photography details
42
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
max shutter speed is good (1/16,000s)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (230 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GF7 Travel photography highlights
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
70
comes with touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (230 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography features
Panasonic GF7 Landscape photography features
41
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery power (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
69
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
terrible battery life (230 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic GF7
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than others (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
33
touchscreen capability
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of mic socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GF7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic GF7
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2013-01-08 2015-02-01
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Total lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 5.8 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 226g (0.50 lbs) 266g (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
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 images 230 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $230 $308