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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Updated by Olympus E-3
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15, one is a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and ZS15 (12MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-1 was introduced 9 years prior to the ZS15 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-1 matches up vs the ZS15 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-1 ZS15 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-1

 ZS15 E-1 
IntroducedJune 2012November 2003More modern by 104 months
Screen size3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution460k134kClearer screen (+326k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-1 ZS15 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-1 has got external 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) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-1 vs the ZS15.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-1 and ZS15 is 59 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The image underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-1 and ZS15.

Clearly, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-1 with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS15 will give extra detail using its extra 7MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography highlights
46
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
no liveview feature
resolution not great (5 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography highlights
57
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
lighter than competitors (735 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (208g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-1
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS15
40
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
slow frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (5 megapixels)
36
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
47
lighter than competitors (735 grams)
environment sealing
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (5 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
61
lighter than others in class (208 grams)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (260 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography factors
46
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
screen is small (1.8")
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (5MP)
no Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery power (260 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-1
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS15
9
no video shooting
33
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (208 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus E-1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2003-11-29 2012-06-29
Physical type Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 2560 x 1920 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 1.8" 3"
Screen resolution 134 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735 grams (1.62 lbs) 208 grams (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $1,700 $279