Clicky

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 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  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • New Model is OM System OM-5
Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS8
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-M5 III versus Panasonic ZS7, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and ZS7 (12MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor measurements.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The E-M5 III was brought out 8 years after the ZS7 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 III grades against the ZS7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic ZS7

 E-M5 III ZS7 
LaunchedOctober 2019July 2011More modern by 101 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 ZS7 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS7

 E-M5 III ZS7 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III has got outside measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS7 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 III versus Panasonic ZS7 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 III vs the ZS7.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and ZS7 is 80 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing specifications. The image below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 III and ZS7.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 III featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M5 III will result in greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer E-M5 III provides an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS7 Portrait photography features
77
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
21
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS7 Street photography highlights
83
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch focus
environment sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (218g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS7
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (30.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery (310 per charge)
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS7 Travel photography factors
77
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
boasts touch focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery (310 per charge)
63
lighter than average in class (218g)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS7 Landscape photography factors
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
bad battery (310 CIPA)
38
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Vlogging camera
84
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes external microphone port
30
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (218 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic ZS7
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ10
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2019-10-17 2011-07-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type MOS CCD
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 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.30 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest 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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD Lite
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 gr (0.91 lbs) 218 gr (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $1,199 $350