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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-3
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the ZS1 (10MP) is fairly close but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-5 was brought out 21 months after the ZS1 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-5 grades vs the ZS1 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic ZS1

 E-5 ZS1 
RevealedFebruary 2011May 2009More modern by 21 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus E-5

 ZS1 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS1

 E-5 ZS1 
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 comes with outside measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS1 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-5 and the ZS1.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and ZS1 is 58 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes merely by viewing specs. The image underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and ZS1.

All in all, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-5 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-5 will result in more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The fresher E-5 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography information
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
25
includes face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography info
71
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Sports photography camera
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography advice
56
weather sealing
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
63
lighter than competition (229 grams)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging factors
64
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
does have microphone port
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competition (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-03 2009-05-14
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 6.3
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 lbs) 229 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Dual One
Price at launch $1,700 $0