Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS100

On this page, we are matching up the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic ZS100, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the ZS100 (20MP) is fairly similar but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") offer different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 II was revealed 11 months prior to the ZS100 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-M5 II grades vs the ZS100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-M5 II Gallery and Panasonic ZS100 Gallery.

If you are going to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II has got physical measurements 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 ZS100 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic ZS100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 II and the ZS100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and ZS100 is 80 and 87 respectively.

Normally, it is very tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 II and ZS100.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 II with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS100 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older E-M5 II is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.