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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
14
Overall
25
Olympus FE-45 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus FE-45
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-108mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 62 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2009
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS20, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the FE-45 (10MP) and ZS20 (14MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FE-45 was manufactured 4 years prior to the ZS20 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FE-45 matches up versus the ZS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-45 over the Panasonic ZS20

 FE-45 ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus FE-45

 ZS20 FE-45 
LaunchedApril 2012January 2009More modern by 40 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS20

 FE-45 ZS20 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-45 provides outer measurements of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the FE-45 compared to the ZS20.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-45 and ZS20 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-45 and ZS20.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should expect the Panasonic ZS20 to provide extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FE-45 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography advice
19
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
30
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography information
56
built in image stabilization (Digital)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
lighter than others (206g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus FE-45 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography features
26
built in image stabilization (Digital)
no shutter priority
low resolution (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus FE-45
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
68
lighter than others (206 grams)
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
missing Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus FE-45
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
27
built in image stabilization (Digital)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-45 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
25
built in image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (36mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
34
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (206g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic jack
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Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus FE-45Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus FE-45 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-01-07 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-108mm (3.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 142 gr (0.31 lbs) 206 gr (0.45 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $130 $349