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Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
82
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 390g - 120 x 83 x 47mm
  • Announced August 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M10
  • Updated by Olympus E-M10 III
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M10 II and Panasonic ZS5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M10 II (16MP) and ZS5 (12MP) and the E-M10 II (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-M10 II was introduced 5 years later than the ZS5 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-M10 II scores versus the ZS5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 II over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-M10 II ZS5 
AnnouncedAugust 2015June 2010More recent by 64 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-M10 II

 ZS5 E-M10 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 II and Panasonic ZS5

 E-M10 II ZS5 
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M10 II enjoys outer dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 390 grams (0.86 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M10 II and Panasonic ZS5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M10 II versus the ZS5.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M10 II and ZS5 is 82 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The visual underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M10 II and ZS5.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M10 II using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-M10 II will give you more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more modern E-M10 II provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Portrait photography camera
72
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
27
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Street photography information
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography information
83
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (214 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography advice
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
31
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography factors
73
supports focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
63
lighter than competition in class (214 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M10 II
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS5
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
33
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 II as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Vlogging camera
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no mic socket
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (214 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 II and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2015-08-25 2010-06-16
Body design 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
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (ISO 100) 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, redeye reduction, fill flash, flash off, 1st-curtain slow sync w/redeye, 1st-curtain slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/30p/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 390g (0.86 lbs) 214g (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 47mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 1.9") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 842 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $499 $300