Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS100

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic ZS100, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the ZS100 (20MP) is very comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was announced 3 years prior to the ZS100 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-M1 grades vs the ZS100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M1 Gallery and Panasonic ZS100 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 comes with physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS100 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic ZS100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-M1 against the ZS100.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and ZS100 is 71 and 87 respectively.

Normally, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The picture here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and ZS100.

Clearly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS100 will show more detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-M1 will be behind in sensor innovation.