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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-600 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 Key Specs

Olympus E-600
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 515g - 130 x 94 x 60mm
  • Launched August 2009
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-600 versus Panasonic ZR1, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-600 (12MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-600 (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-600 was unveiled 2 months later than the ZR1 and they are both of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-600 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-600 scores vs the ZR1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-600 over the Panasonic ZR1

 E-600 ZR1 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus E-600

 ZR1 E-600 

Common features in the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic ZR1

 E-600 ZR1 
LaunchedAugust 2009July 2009Similar age
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display sizing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-600 comes with physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZR1 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Olympus E-600 versus Panasonic ZR1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-600 vs the ZR1.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-600 and ZR1 is 71 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-600 and ZR1.

As you can tell, the two cameras provide the same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The E-600 features the larger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallower DOF easier.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-600 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography information
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
21
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Street photography camera
76
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-600
Sports photography with Panasonic ZR1
48
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has phase detect auto focus
low fps (4.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-600 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography info
53
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
resolution not great (12MP)
57
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-600 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography advice
53
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (500 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
32
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-600 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging advice
18
lack of video recording
28
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone jack
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-600 and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus E-600Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-600 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-30 2009-07-27
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III+ Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 7 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 515 gr (1.14 lb) 158 gr (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 541 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 images -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $0 $280