Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS5

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS5, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and ZS5 (12MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") have different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 III was released 9 years later than the ZS5 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-M1 III grades vs the ZS5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 III Gallery and Panasonic ZS5 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 III has outer dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 III and the ZS5.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and ZS5 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing simply by checking out technical specs. The graphic underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 III and ZS5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III because of its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-M1 III will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 III should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.