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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Older Model is Olympus E-3
Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS200
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS100, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-5 was launched 5 years prior to the ZS100 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-5 matches up against the ZS100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic ZS100

 E-5 ZS100 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus E-5

 ZS100 E-5 
IntroducedJanuary 2016February 2011More recent by 59 months
Display resolution1040k920kSharper display (+120k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS100

 E-5 ZS100 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 offers physical measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS100 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

See the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the E-5 vs the ZS100.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and ZS100 is 58 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The visual below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and ZS100.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-5 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS100 will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-5
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS100
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
64
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS100 Street photography info
71
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
78
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
lighter than competition in class (312g)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS100
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
67
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography advice
56
environment proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
75
lighter than competition in class (312g)
comes with touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS100 Landscape photography details
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
68
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging factors
64
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
includes mic support
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (312g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Class Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-02-03 2016-01-05
Physical type Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 49
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.46x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0fps 9.9fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 lb) 312 grams (0.69 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 70
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 12.5
DXO Low light rating 519 559
Other
Battery life 870 pictures 300 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Dual One
Cost at release $1,700 $700