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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 III
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched May 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic ZS1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 II was released 5 years after the ZS1 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-M5 II matches up against the ZS1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Panasonic ZS1

 E-M5 II ZS1 
LaunchedFebruary 2015May 2009Newer by 70 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kCrisper screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 ZS1 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic ZS1

 E-M5 II ZS1 

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II comes with outside dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS1 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic ZS1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 II against the ZS1.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and ZS1 is 80 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and ZS1.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 II featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M5 II will provide more detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The younger E-M5 II should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
25
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography features
82
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
features focus via touch
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Sports photography camera
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
terrible battery life (310 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography info
74
environment proof
features focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery life (310 CIPA)
63
lighter than competition (229g)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Landscape photography camera
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
terrible battery life (310 per charge)
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging details
82
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic socket
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than competition (229 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have mic support
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2015-02-06 2009-05-14
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469 grams (1.03 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $699 $0