Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZR1

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZR1, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-5 was launched 19 months after the ZR1 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-5 grades versus the ZR1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus E-5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1. The complete galleries are available at Olympus E-5 Gallery & Panasonic ZR1 Gallery.

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 has got physical dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR1 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZR1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-5 versus the ZR1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and ZR1 is 58 and 94 respectively.

Usually, it's hard to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and ZR1.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-5 uses the larger sensor which is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The more modern E-5 will have an edge in sensor innovation.