Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZR1

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZR1, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SZ-16 iHS was revealed 3 years later than the ZR1 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SZ-16 iHS matches up against the ZR1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus SZ-16 iHS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus SZ-16 iHS Gallery & Panasonic ZR1 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS features physical dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZR1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the ZR1.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and ZR1 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements simply by going through specs. The graphic below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and ZR1.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Olympus SZ-16 iHS to show extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The fresher SZ-16 iHS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.