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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
68
Imaging
59
Features
93
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M1
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 III
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
  • Released April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M1 II versus Panasonic ZS20, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 II was brought out 4 years later than the ZS20 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-M1 II matches up against the ZS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-M1 II ZS20 
ReleasedSeptember 2016April 2012Fresher by 54 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 ZS20 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic ZS20

 E-M1 II ZS20 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 II features outside dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") along with a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 II versus Panasonic ZS20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 II versus the ZS20.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 II and ZS20 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by reading specifications. The visual here should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 II and ZS20.

To sum up, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 II due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 II will offer extra detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-M1 II provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1 II
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
75
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
30
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography info
78
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
weather sealing
lighter than average (574 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 II
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (60.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
terrible battery power (350 per charge)
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography features
72
lighter than average (574g)
weather sealing
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
68
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
provides focus via touch
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography factors
76
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
terrible battery power (350 shots)
42
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
terrible battery (260 shots)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging details
79
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has mic port
lighter than average (574 grams)
34
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (206g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2016-09-19 2012-04-26
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 6.40 m
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MOV, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 574g (1.27 pounds) 206g (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 260 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Dual 1
Cost at launch $1,700 $349