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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Launched October 2019
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Later Model is OM System OM-5
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
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ35
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS20
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS30
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS25, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and ZS25 (16MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and ZS25 (1/2.3") use different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 III was brought out 6 years later than the ZS25 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS25 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-M5 III grades against the ZS25 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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

 E-M5 III ZS25 
IntroducedOctober 2019January 2013Fresher by 83 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 ZS25 E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III ZS25 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 III enjoys exterior dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS25 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS25 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-M5 III against the ZS25.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and ZS25 is 80 and 93 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through specs. The photograph below may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and ZS25.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III because of its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-M5 III will give you extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 III should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS25 Portrait photography features
77
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
delivers RAW files
32
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS25 Street photography advice
83
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts focus via touch
environment proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than competitors (193g)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS25 Sports photography advice
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
45
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS25 as a Travel photography camera
77
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count decent (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
69
lighter than competitors (193g)
supports focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS25
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery life (310 shots)
43
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS25
84
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone port
34
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (193 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS25 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS25
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ35
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2019-10-17 2013-01-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1200s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
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 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414 gr (0.91 lbs) 193 gr (0.43 lbs)
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 Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 shots 260 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $1,199 $300