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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
26
Overall
32

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic ZR3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 159g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX3
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the ZR3 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and ZR3 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was announced 2 years after the ZR3 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR3 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-M5 scores against the ZR3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic ZR3

 E-M5 ZR3 
IntroducedApril 2012January 2010Newer by 28 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kSharper screen (+380k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR3 over the Olympus E-M5

 ZR3 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic ZR3

 E-M5 ZR3 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 has got physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 versus the ZR3.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and ZR3 is 81 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions just by checking out a spec sheet. The picture here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and ZR3.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M5 will produce more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The newer E-M5 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZR3 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Panasonic ZR3
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
weather sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZR3 Sports photography advice
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather sealing
lack of phase detect auto focus
36
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZR3 Travel photography features
66
weather sealing
boasts focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
64
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZR3 Landscape photography info
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
no Time Lapse mode
37
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZR3 Vlogging information
34
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
29
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone port
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZR3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic ZR3
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-ZX3
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-04-30 2010-01-26
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 159 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $799 $280