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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Succeeded the 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
  • Launched June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS20
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-5 was manufactured 17 months earlier than the ZS15 which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-5 matches up versus the ZS15 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-5 ZS15 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-5

 ZS15 E-5 
LaunchedJune 2012February 2011More modern by 17 months

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-5 ZS15 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 enjoys physical dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS15 has specifications 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-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-5 and the ZS15.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and ZS15 is 58 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The picture here should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and ZS15.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature the identical MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-5 has got the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field simpler. The more aged E-5 will be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography features
71
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (208g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Sports photography camera
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Travel photography camera
56
weather sealing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
61
lighter than average (208 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery life (260 CIPA)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
37
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
bad battery life (260 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Vlogging camera
64
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
includes external mic jack
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
33
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (208 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-02-03 2012-06-29
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 23
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 208 gr (0.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images 260 images
Form of battery Battery Pack 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/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Dual Single
Cost at release $1,700 $279