Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1
71 Imaging
52 Features
85 Overall
65
91 Imaging
32 Features
25 Overall
29
Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs
(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
- Announced October 2013
- Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 640 x 480 video
- 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
- 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
- Announced May 2009
- Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
Photography Glossary Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview
Here, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") provide totally different sensor sizing.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe E-M1 was brought out 4 years after the ZS1 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.
Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-M1 scores vs the ZS1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Gallery
Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 Gallery & Panasonic ZS1 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic ZS1
| E-M1 | ZS1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | October 2013 | May 2009 | More modern by 55 months | |
| Manual focus | More precise focusing | |||
| Screen type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting screen | |
| Screen size | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Screen resolution | 1037k | 230k | Clearer screen (+807k dot) | |
| Touch friendly screen | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus E-M1
| ZS1 | E-M1 |
|---|
Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS1
| E-M1 | ZS1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selfie screen | Neither features selfie screen |
Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS1 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).
Compare the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M1 against the ZS1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and ZS1 is 71 and 91 respectively.
Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The pic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and ZS1.
All in all, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M1 will offer extra detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-M1 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.
Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications
| Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Company | Olympus | Panasonic |
| Model | Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 |
| Also Known as | - | Lumix DMC-TZ6 |
| Class | Pro Mirrorless | Small Sensor Superzoom |
| Announced | 2013-10-28 | 2009-05-14 |
| Physical type | SLR-style mirrorless | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | TruePIC VII | - |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.5" |
| Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 5.744 x 4.308mm |
| Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 24.7mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 16 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 |
| Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 3648 x 2736 |
| Max native ISO | 25600 | 6400 |
| Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW images | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| AF single | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detect AF | ||
| Contract detect AF | ||
| Phase detect AF | ||
| Number of focus points | 81 | 11 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
| Lens focal range | - | 25-300mm (12.0x) |
| Max aperture | - | f/3.3-4.9 |
| Macro focus range | - | 3cm |
| Amount of lenses | 107 | - |
| Crop factor | 2.1 | 6.3 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of display | Tilting | Fixed Type |
| Display diagonal | 3" | 2.7" |
| Resolution of display | 1,037k dots | 230k dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch display | ||
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360k dots | - |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.74x | - |
| Features | ||
| Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 60 seconds |
| Highest shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/2000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting rate | 10.0 frames/s | 3.0 frames/s |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manual mode | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
| Custom WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash range | no built-in flash | 5.30 m (Auto ISO) |
| Flash settings | Flash Auto, 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 reduction, Slow Sync |
| External flash | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Highest 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) | 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
| Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 640x480 |
| Video format | H.264, Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
| Microphone support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Built-In | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 497g (1.10 lbs) | 229g (0.50 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") | 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around score | 73 | not tested |
| DXO Color Depth score | 23.0 | not tested |
| DXO Dynamic range score | 12.7 | not tested |
| DXO Low light score | 757 | not tested |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 350 shots | - |
| Form of battery | Battery Pack | - |
| Battery model | BLN-1 | - |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse shooting | ||
| Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal |
| Card slots | Single | Single |
| Retail pricing | $799 | $0 |