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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Announced October 2013
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic ZS1
(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
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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.

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The 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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic ZS1

 E-M1 ZS1 
AnnouncedOctober 2013May 2009More modern by 55 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and ZS1 is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS1
71
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320s)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
25
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Panasonic ZS1
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
environment proofing
lighter than competitors (497 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography highlights
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (350 per charge)
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Travel photography camera
65
lighter than competitors (497g)
environment proofing
has touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
bad battery power (350 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
63
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography information
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone port
lighter than competitors (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic 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