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Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
54
Imaging
61
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1X front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1X
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 997g - 144 x 147 x 75mm
  • Released January 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the E-M1X (20MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the E-M1X (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1X was unveiled 6 years later than the ZS20 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1X being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-M1X scores versus the ZS20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1X over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-M1X ZS20 
IntroducedJanuary 2019April 2012More recent by 83 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-M1X

 ZS20 E-M1X 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1X and Panasonic ZS20

 E-M1X ZS20 
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1X has physical measurements of 144mm x 147mm x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") having a weight of 997 grams (2.20 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 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 have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1X compared to the ZS20.

Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1X and ZS20 is 54 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements only by checking technical specs. The graphic here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1X and ZS20.

As you can tell, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M1X with its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M1X will resolve greater detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer E-M1X will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1X as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Portrait photography camera
76
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
30
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Street photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography info
67
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus by touch
weather proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than competition (997g)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1X as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
80
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery (870 per charge)
supports phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (260 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1X as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
68
better than average battery (870 per charge)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
supports focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (997g)
68
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
boasts touch focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (260 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M1X
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery (870 shots)
two card slots
42
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1X Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging info
68
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
video res high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
comes with microphone socket
more heavy than competition (997g)
34
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (206g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic port
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Olympus E-M1X vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1X and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus OM-D E-M1XPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1X Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2019-01-24 2012-04-26
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes (USB-PD allows charging by laptop or external power bank) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 997g (2.20 pounds) 206g (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 144 x 147 x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 870 images 260 images
Style of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 2 Single
Pricing at launch $2,999 $349