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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Released October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • New Model is OM System OM-5
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus E-M5 III versus Panasonic ZS20, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 III was announced 7 years after the ZS20 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-M5 III matches up versus the ZS20 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-M5 III ZS20 
RevealedOctober 2019April 2012More modern by 91 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 ZS20 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS20

 E-M5 III ZS20 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 III has got outer dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 III versus Panasonic ZS20 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the ZS20.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and ZS20 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by checking specs. The image underneath might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and ZS20.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 III with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-M5 III will give more detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography highlights
77
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
30
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
83
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features touch to focus
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competition (206g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography information
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (30.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
low battery life (310 CIPA)
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography details
77
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
features touch to focus
good megapixels (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
low battery life (310 CIPA)
68
lighter than competition (206 grams)
offers focus by touch
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low battery power (260 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
77
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
low battery life (310 per charge)
42
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
low battery power (260 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
84
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone port
34
really wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2019-10-17 2012-04-26
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 30.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 grams (0.91 lb) 206 grams (0.45 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 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 310 images 260 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $1,199 $349