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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Revealed March 2014
  • Refreshed by Olympus SH-2
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced July 2012
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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic SZ5, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SH-1 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SH-1 was brought out 21 months later than the SZ5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SH-1 matches up against the SZ5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Panasonic SZ5

 SH-1 SZ5 
AnnouncedMarch 2014July 2012More recent by 21 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Olympus SH-1

 SZ5 SH-1 

Common features in the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic SZ5

 SH-1 SZ5 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-1 features outside measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ5 has dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic SZ5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SH-1 versus the SZ5.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-1 and SZ5 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The photograph underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-1 and SZ5.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Olympus SH-1 to resolve more detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more recent SH-1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Portrait photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography info
37
MP count good (16MP)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
34
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography information
64
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features focus via touch
lighter than competition (271 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-1
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ5
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery (380 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-1
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ5
74
great battery (380 shots)
lighter than competition (271g)
features focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
70
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-1
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
49
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
great battery (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
42
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging factors
37
quite wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
lighter than competition (271g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
32
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic SZ5
 Olympus Stylus SH-1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-03-31 2012-07-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 12.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 136 gr (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 380 pictures 250 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $349 $195