Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20
80 Imaging
61 Features
88 Overall
71
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92 Imaging
37 Features
46 Overall
40
Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs
(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- Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II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
(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
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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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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus OM-D E-M5 III & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-M5 III Gallery & Panasonic ZS20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic ZS20
E-M5 III | ZS20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | October 2019 | ![]() | April 2012 | More modern by 91 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Very precise focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 1040k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer 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 sizing | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.
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Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and ZS20 is 80 and 92 respectively.
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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.
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder
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Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
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Street Comparison
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Sports Comparison
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Travel Comparison
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Landscape Comparison
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Vlogging Comparison
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | Panasonic 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 |