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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
71
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Olympus E-600 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Announced August 2009
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-600 (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very comparable but the E-600 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-600 was launched 3 years before the ZS20 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-600 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-600 grades against the ZS20 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-600 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-600 ZS20 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-600

 ZS20 E-600 
RevealedApril 2012August 2009More recent by 32 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-600 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-600 ZS20 

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-600 features physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") with a weight of 515 grams (1.14 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-600 versus the ZS20.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-600 and ZS20 is 71 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-600 and ZS20.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-600 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS20 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The older E-600 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-600 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography info
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
30
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-600 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography info
76
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
65
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than average (206g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-600 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-600
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
53
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
68
lighter than average (206g)
features focus by touch
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (260 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-600
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
53
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery pack (500 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse mode
42
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery (260 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-600 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
18
can't shoot video
34
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (206 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-600 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-600 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus E-600Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-600 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-08-30 2012-04-26
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 7 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology HyperCrystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Fill-in, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 515 grams (1.14 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 60mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.4") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 260 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $0 $349