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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released November 2003
  • Later Model is Olympus E-3
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1, one is a Pro DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and ZR1 (12MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-1 was unveiled 6 years earlier than the ZR1 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a full comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-1 grades vs the ZR1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Panasonic ZR1

 E-1 ZR1 
Manual focus More precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus E-1

 ZR1 E-1 
RevealedJuly 2009November 2003More modern by 68 months
Display dimensions2.7"1.8"Larger display (+0.9")
Display resolution230k134kCrisper display (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Panasonic ZR1

 E-1 ZR1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 has physical measurements of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-1 compared to the ZR1.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and ZR1 is 59 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes purely by looking at specifications. The pic below should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-1 and ZR1.

To sum up, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic ZR1 will give greater detail having an extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZR1
46
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview
low resolution (5 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography highlights
57
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
lighter than average (735g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Sports photography camera
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (5MP)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-1
Travel photography with Panasonic ZR1
47
lighter than average (735 grams)
weather proofing
does not have Timelapse mode
low resolution (5 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
57
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography information
46
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
tiny screen (1.8 inch)
no liveview
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (5 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
32
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Vlogging camera
9
lack of video recording
28
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus E-1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also called - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Class Pro DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2003-11-29 2009-07-27
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine V
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 5MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 2560 x 1920 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 134 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.10 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735g (1.62 lb) 158g (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $1,700 $280