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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS200
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M5 III vs 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 III (20MP) and the ZS100 (20MP) is fairly comparable but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") offer different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was launched 3 years later than the ZS100 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-M5 III scores versus the ZS100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic ZS100

 E-M5 III ZS100 
IntroducedOctober 2019January 2016More recent by 47 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 ZS100 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS100

 E-M5 III ZS100 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution1040k1040kThe same display resolution
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III has physical dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") and a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS100 has proportions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 III and the ZS100.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

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

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The photograph here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and ZS100.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras feature the identical megapixel count but different sensor measurements. The E-M5 III features the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler. The younger E-M5 III provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Portrait photography camera
77
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
64
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography features
Panasonic ZS100 Street photography features
83
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers touch to focus
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
78
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
lighter than average in class (312 grams)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS100
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (30.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery power (310 per charge)
67
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
has tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography details
77
environment proof
supports bluetooth
offers touch to focus
good resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
bad battery power (310 per charge)
75
lighter than average in class (312g)
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS100
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
bad battery power (310 per charge)
68
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging features
84
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone jack
35
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average in class (312g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Category Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2019-10-17 2016-01-05
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Venus Engine
Sensor type MOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 64 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 30.0 frames/s 9.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414g (0.91 lbs) 312g (0.69 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 559
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 300 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,199 $700