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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 III
Panasonic ZS25
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 193g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ35
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS20
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS30
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Panasonic ZS25, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the ZS25 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and ZS25 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was introduced 2 years later than the ZS25 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS25 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-M5 II matches up against the ZS25 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Panasonic ZS25

 E-M5 II ZS25 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2013More recent by 26 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS25 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 ZS25 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic ZS25

 E-M5 II ZS25 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 II features external dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS25 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 II versus Panasonic ZS25 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 II and the ZS25.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 II and ZS25 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading through specs. The visual here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 II and ZS25.

All in all, each of these cameras offer the same exact resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-M5 II provides the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF easier. The newer E-M5 II will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS25
71
has manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
32
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Street photography with Panasonic ZS25
82
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides touch to focus
environment proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
lighter than others in class (193 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS25 as a Sports photography camera
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
low battery power (310 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
45
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS25 Travel photography info
74
environment proof
provides touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery power (310 per charge)
69
lighter than others in class (193g)
boasts focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS25 Landscape photography information
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
low battery power (310 shots)
43
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery power (260 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS25 Vlogging advice
82
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone port
34
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (193g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic ZS25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic ZS25
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ35
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2015-02-06 2013-01-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
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) 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469 grams (1.03 lbs) 193 grams (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 260 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $699 $300