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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS50
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M1 III versus Panasonic ZS45, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 III was brought out 5 years after the ZS45 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-M1 III scores vs the ZS45 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Panasonic ZS45

 E-M1 III ZS45 
IntroducedFebruary 2020January 2015More modern by 63 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 ZS45 E-M1 III 
Screen resolution1040k1037kCrisper screen (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic ZS45

 E-M1 III ZS45 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 III offers physical dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS45 has measurements of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 III versus Panasonic ZS45 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 change based on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 III vs the ZS45.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and ZS45 is 67 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes only by going over a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 III and ZS45.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 III featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus E-M1 III will offer extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger E-M1 III should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
77
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
37
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography info
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography info
78
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (249 grams)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (60.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
55
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery power (350 shots)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography information
79
weather proof
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
good megapixels (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
71
good battery power (350 CIPA)
lighter than average (249g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
81
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
47
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good battery power (350 shots)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging factors
79
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic jack
34
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (249 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2020-02-11 2015-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic IX -
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 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 21
Cross focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest silent 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
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest 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 PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 580 grams (1.28 pounds) 249 grams (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 420 images 350 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 2 1
Cost at launch $1,800 $300