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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic ZS80
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 327g - 112 x 69 x 42mm
  • Revealed February 2018
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DC-TZ95
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS70
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS80, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the ZS80 (20MP) is relatively close but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and ZS80 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was launched 5 years before the ZS80 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS80 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the E-M1 grades against the ZS80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic ZS80

 E-M1 ZS80 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS80 over the Olympus E-M1

 ZS80 E-M1 
RevealedFebruary 2018October 2013More modern by 52 months
Screen resolution1040k1037kClearer screen (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS80

 E-M1 ZS80 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 offers physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS80 has measurements of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") having a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS80 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-M1 compared to the ZS80.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and ZS80 is 71 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through technical specs. The pic below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and ZS80.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS80 will result in greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged E-M1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS80 Portrait photography features
71
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320s)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
54
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Panasonic ZS80
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
environment proofing
lighter than competition (497g)
good ISO range (25,600)
75
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
features focus via touch
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS80 Sports photography info
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
61
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery (380 per charge)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS80 Travel photography information
65
lighter than competition (497 grams)
environment proofing
boasts focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly display
79
good battery (380 CIPA)
connects via bluetooth
features focus via touch
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS80 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
62
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
good battery (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS80 Vlogging advice
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone jack
lighter than competition (497g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
73
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
lack of external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS80
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80
Also Known as - Lumix DC-TZ95
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-10-28 2018-02-18
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 2,330k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Flash Auto, 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, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 327 grams (0.72 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 112 x 69 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photos 380 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $799 $448