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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
68
Imaging
59
Features
93
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M1
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 III
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and ZS15 (12MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 II was launched 4 years after the ZS15 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-M1 II scores against the ZS15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-M1 II ZS15 
IntroducedSeptember 2016June 2012More modern by 52 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 ZS15 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic ZS15

 E-M1 II ZS15 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 II provides outer dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 II vs the ZS15.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 II and ZS15 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to see the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The image underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 II and ZS15.

Clearly, both cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 II due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M1 II will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The younger E-M1 II is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography advice
75
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography factors
78
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus via touch
weather proofing
lighter than others (574 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (208g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography factors
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (60.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery life (350 shots)
36
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (260 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography details
72
lighter than others (574g)
weather proofing
comes with focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
selfie friendly display
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
61
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (260 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography highlights
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery life (350 per charge)
37
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
terrible battery pack (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging information
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic jack
lighter than others (574 grams)
33
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-09-19 2012-06-29
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MOV, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 574g (1.27 pounds) 208g (0.46 pounds)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1312 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 shots 260 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 2 1
Retail pricing $1,700 $279