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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(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 Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and ZS50 (12MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor size.

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The E-M1 III was unveiled 5 years later than the ZS50 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-M1 III grades vs the ZS50 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-M1 III ZS50 
RevealedFebruary 2020January 2015Fresher by 63 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 ZS50 E-M1 III 
Display resolution1040k1037kSharper display (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic ZS50

 E-M1 III ZS50 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 III provides outer measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS50 has measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 III and the ZS50.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and ZS50 is 67 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The photograph here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 III and ZS50.

All in all, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M1 III will provide more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 III is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography information
77
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
42
focusing manually
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography advice
78
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
environment sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (243g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Sports photography camera
81
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (60.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
43
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS50
79
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
66
lighter than competition in class (243g)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography features
81
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
does not have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
51
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Vlogging camera
79
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
good video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone support
34
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (243 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2020-02-11 2015-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic IX -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 23
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash modes 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580 grams (1.28 lbs) 243 grams (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 44
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 138
Other
Battery life 420 images 300 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Dual 1
Pricing at launch $1,800 $350