Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic ZS5

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS5, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is pretty close but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-5 was manufactured 8 months after the ZS5 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-5 grades versus the ZS5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-5 Gallery and Panasonic ZS5 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 offers external measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS5 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic ZS5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-5 vs the ZS5.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and ZS5 is 58 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The pic here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and ZS5.

As you can tell, both of the cameras provide the same MP albeit different sensor sizes. The E-5 includes the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier. The newer E-5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.