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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS8
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic ZS7, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and ZS7 (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 was released 2 years after the ZS7 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-M1 scores versus the ZS7 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic ZS7

 E-M1 ZS7 
ReleasedOctober 2013July 2011Newer by 28 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Olympus E-M1

 ZS7 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS7

 E-M1 ZS7 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 offers external measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS7 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic ZS7 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 against the ZS7.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and ZS7 is 71 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over specs. The pic here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and ZS7.

All in all, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images much more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
21
no manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Panasonic ZS7
78
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment proof
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (218g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS7
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS7 Travel photography advice
65
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
environment proof
includes focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
63
lighter than others (218 grams)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS7
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
38
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging information
36
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic port
lighter than average in class (497g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (218g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic ZS7
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ10
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-10-28 2011-07-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.30 m
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, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lbs) 218 gr (0.48 lbs)
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 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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $350