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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
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
  • Announced July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS8
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic ZS7, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and ZS7 (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was revealed 10 months after the ZS7 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the E-M5 grades vs the ZS7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic ZS7

 E-M5 ZS7 
AnnouncedApril 2012July 2011Newer by 10 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k460kClearer display (+150k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Olympus E-M5

 ZS7 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic ZS7

 E-M5 ZS7 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys outside dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS7 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic ZS7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 and the ZS7.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and ZS7 is 81 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing technical specs. The image underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and ZS7.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 having a larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will offer greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS7 Street photography information
82
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has touch focus
weather proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (218 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS7
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
no phase detect autofocus
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS7 Travel photography details
66
weather proofing
has touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
63
lighter than competition (218g)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS7 Landscape photography details
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
does not have Timelapse mode
38
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging features
34
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone jack
30
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (218g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic ZS7
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ10
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-04-30 2011-07-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 610 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 218 gr (0.48 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $799 $350