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Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M10 II
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M10 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very similar but the E-M10 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-M10 was revealed 24 months later than the ZS20 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-M10 matches up against the ZS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-M10 ZS20 
LaunchedMarch 2014April 2012Fresher by 24 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-M10

 ZS20 E-M10 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-M10 ZS20 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M10 has got physical dimensions of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M10 compared to the ZS20.

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 and ZS20 is 82 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M10 and ZS20.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M10 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M10 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The fresher E-M10 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
30
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
77
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
heavier than others (396 grams)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
has touch focus
lighter than competition (206g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
67
offers focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
heavier than others (396g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than competition (206g)
has touch focus
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography factors
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
42
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging details
33
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have mic support
heavier than others (396 grams)
34
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (206g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
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Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2014-03-18 2012-04-26
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (ISO100) 6.40 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396 gr (0.87 lb) 206 gr (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 884 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photos 260 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $600 $349