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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-3
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS50
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-5 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the ZS45 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-5 grades vs the ZS45 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic ZS45

 E-5 ZS45 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus E-5

 ZS45 E-5 
LaunchedJanuary 2015February 2011Fresher by 47 months
Screen resolution1040k920kCrisper screen (+120k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS45

 E-5 ZS45 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera, you should take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 provides external dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS45 has specifications of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-5 vs the ZS45.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and ZS45 is 58 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizing purely by checking specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and ZS45.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-5 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will give you extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (12MP)
37
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography highlights
71
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
69
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (249g)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography info
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12MP)
55
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery pack (350 per charge)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography details
56
environment proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
71
good battery pack (350 per charge)
lighter than others in class (249 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
47
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good battery pack (350 per charge)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-5
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
64
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
includes external mic socket
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
34
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (249 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-03 2015-01-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 21
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 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) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 249 grams (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 350 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Two One
Launch cost $1,700 $300