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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Introduced November 2003
  • Updated by Olympus E-3
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5, former is a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and ZS5 (12MP) and the E-1 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-1 was introduced 7 years prior to the ZS5 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-1 grades vs the ZS5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-1 ZS5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-1

 ZS5 E-1 
AnnouncedJune 2010November 2003More modern by 79 months
Screen dimensions2.7"1.8"Bigger screen (+0.9")
Screen resolution230k134kSharper screen (+96k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Panasonic ZS5

 E-1 ZS5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-1 comes with outer dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS5 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-1 compared to the ZS5.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-1 and ZS5 is 59 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The pic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and ZS5.

All in all, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-1 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS5 will result in greater detail using its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged E-1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS5
46
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
low MP (5 megapixels)
27
offers face detect focusing
no manual focus
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography advice
57
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
lighter than competitors (735g)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (214 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography highlights
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (5 megapixels)
31
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography details
47
lighter than competitors (735g)
weather proof
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (5MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
63
lighter than average (214g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography highlights
46
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
tiny screen (1.8 inches)
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low MP (5 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
33
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-1
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS5
9
lack of video recording
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than average (214 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus E-1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus E-1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2003-11-29 2010-06-16
Body design Large SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 2560 x 1920 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 3 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 1.8 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 134 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum 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 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 735 gr (1.62 lb) 214 gr (0.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,700 $300