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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 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
  • Introduced January 2013
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS50
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS45, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SZ-16 iHS was launched 24 months before the ZS45 making them a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the SZ-16 iHS scores vs the ZS45 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic ZS45

 SZ-16 iHS ZS45 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 ZS45 SZ-16 iHS 
LaunchedJanuary 2015January 2013More modern by 24 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS45

 SZ-16 iHS ZS45 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS enjoys outside dimensions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS45 has sizing of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS45 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the SZ-16 iHS and the ZS45.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ-16 iHS and ZS45 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specs. The pic underneath should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-16 iHS and ZS45.

All in all, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same resolution so you should expect comparable quality of pictures though you should really factor the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged SZ-16 iHS will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography advice
35
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
37
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Street photography with Panasonic ZS45
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (249g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
42
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
no phase detect AF
56
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
great battery life (350 per charge)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography features
65
lighter than others (226g)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery life (350 shots)
lighter than others in class (249g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography highlights
41
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
terrible battery power (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
48
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
great battery life (350 shots)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
lighter than others (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (249g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing mic socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-08 2015-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 21
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
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 226 grams (0.50 pounds) 249 grams (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" 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 photographs 350 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at release $230 $300