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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5

Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 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 GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GM1
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the GM5 (16MP) is very close but the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and GM5 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-16 iHS was revealed 20 months before the GM5 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a short view of how the SZ-16 iHS scores against the GM5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic GM5

 SZ-16 iHS GM5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 GM5 SZ-16 iHS 
RevealedSeptember 2014January 2013Newer by 20 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic GM5

 SZ-16 iHS GM5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS has outside dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GM5 has proportions of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs).

Look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the GM5.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and GM5 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specifications. The picture underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-16 iHS and GM5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The SZ-16 iHS provides the smaller sensor which should make achieving bokeh more difficult. The more aged SZ-16 iHS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography info
Panasonic GM5 Portrait photography info
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography highlights
Panasonic GM5 Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
76
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
lighter than average in class (211 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography information
Panasonic GM5 Sports photography information
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
low fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (220 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
48
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
continuous shooting slow (5.8 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (220 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography advice
Panasonic GM5 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than competition in class (226g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery power (220 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than average in class (211g)
features focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
low battery life (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography info
Panasonic GM5 Landscape photography info
41
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery power (220 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
69
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (220 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic GM5
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
34
touch screen
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (211 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic GM5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic GM5
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-01-08 2014-09-15
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias 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 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Number of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 5.8 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 lb) 211 gr (0.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 721
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 220 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B DMW-BLH7
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $230 $966