Olympus E-P1 vs Panasonic ZS20: A Detailed Comparison from a Seasoned Photographer’s Perspective

In my 15-plus years of photographing everything from sweeping landscapes and bustling city streets to elusive wildlife and high-action sports, I’ve handled a broad spectrum of cameras. Recently, I took a deep dive into two intriguing models that appeal to quite different yet overlapping user bases: the Olympus PEN E-P1, a pioneer entry-level mirrorless camera announced in 2009, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20, a small sensor superzoom compact released in 2012.

Both cameras bring unique strengths and compromises shaped by their design philosophy and technological era. Having tested and compared them extensively - evaluating sensor performance, autofocus behavior, ergonomics, and image quality under various shooting conditions - I’m excited to share a thorough breakdown that should help you pick the right fit for your photography needs.

Let’s start by getting familiar with their physical characteristics.

Feeling Each Camera in Hand: Ergonomics and Handling

Despite a three-year gap in release dates, these cameras represent fairly distinct form factors and handling experiences. The Olympus E-P1 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless with a classic, retro-inspired design aimed at enthusiasts who value manual control and lens interchangeability. The Panasonic ZS20 is a compact superzoom engineered for versatility and convenience, packing a 20x zoom into a pocketable body.

Right off the bat, the Olympus feels chunkier and more substantial - measuring roughly 121x70x36mm and weighing 355 grams. Its grip is subtle but solid enough to offer reliable handheld stability; the flat-rangefinder shape encourages deliberate framing and manual focus if desired. In contrast, the Panasonic is noticeably smaller and lighter at 105x59x28mm and 206 grams, favoring portability above all.

The ZS20’s more compact body with extended telescoping zoom lens can feel front-heavy at times during zoomed-in wildlife or sports shots, but it excels in spontaneous street and travel photography due to low-profile design. Overall, the E-P1 offers a more tactile, traditional shooting experience, while the ZS20 wins on ease of carry and quick, flexible framing.

Top Design and Control Layout: Finding Your Flow

Moving on to controls - an essential factor influencing both speed and enjoyment in the field.

The Olympus E-P1’s top plate strikes a balance between minimalism and function. It houses dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, essential for photographers who prefer manual or semi-manual exposure modes. However, its lack of an electronic viewfinder means composing through the rear screen is necessary, which brings challenges outdoors.

Panasonic’s ZS20 compensates with a touch-enabled rear LCD and a more streamlined dial and button arrangement to support its compact form. It also sports a built-in flash - a handy feature missing on the Olympus - and an autofocus mode selector accessible via its buttons.

In practical use, the Olympus’s physical dials feel great for those who want tactile control, but lack of a viewfinder may slow framing under bright sunlight. The Panasonic ZS20’s touchscreen adds intuitive flexibility, especially in macro or video modes, but the smaller buttons and fewer manual options might frustrate purists.

Sensor Sizes and Image Quality Edge

The heart of any camera’s image quality lies in its sensor. Comparing these two here is revealing as they use drastically different sensor formats.

The Olympus E-P1 features a 12MP Four Thirds sized CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm), which is significantly larger than the Panasonic ZS20’s 14MP 1/2.3-inch sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm). That difference translates into much more light-gathering ability and better noise control for the Olympus, especially in dim conditions.

In lab tests and real-world shooting, the E-P1 exhibits superior dynamic range (~10.4 EV measured by DxOmark), richer color depth (21.4 bits), and cleaner high ISO performance (usable up to ISO 1600, sometimes 3200) compared to typical 1/2.3-inch sensor compacts. The Panasonic’s small sensor, while sharper at base ISO due to higher pixel count, struggles more with noise above ISO 400 and loses highlight detail in contrasty scenes.

For landscape photographers craving fine detail and expansive tonal gradation, the Olympus is clearly a better tool. But, keep in mind, the Panasonic’s zoom lens offers extreme reach, which sometimes compensates for image quality losses by enabling shots otherwise impossible.

Looking at the Backside Interface: Screen and Usability

Both cameras rely on rear LCDs for composition and menu navigation, but their implementation differs quite a bit.

The Olympus E-P1 has a 3-inch fixed HyperCrystal LCD with anti-reflective coating but modest 230k pixel resolution. It’s sufficient but noticeably less sharp and bright outdoors compared to modern standards. Touch control is absent, and menu navigation involves several button presses.

By contrast, the Panasonic ZS20 sports a 3-inch 460k pixel touchscreen, enhancing framing precision, focus point selection, and intuitive access to settings. Its interface is simpler and more beginner-friendly.

In direct sunlight shoots, the Olympus LCD occasionally frustrates me because of its lower brightness, while the Panasonic’s screen copes better. However, the touchscreen’s utility varies by user - I found tactile buttons preferable in busy scenarios or with gloves.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tone Rendering and Bokeh Quality

Portraiture is where sensor quality, autofocus precision, and lens characteristics truly intersect.

The Olympus E-P1 allows interchangeable lenses on the Micro Four Thirds mount; I paired it with the 45mm f/1.8 prime lens - a sweet spot for portraiture. The larger sensor with fast lenses yields beautiful background blur and creamy bokeh, while colors and skin tones appear natural and pleasing without heavy processing.

The camera’s eye detection autofocus, while rudimentary compared to modern standards, helped lock focus accurately on single subjects indoors and outdoors. The lens’s sharpness captured excellent detail in eyes and hair, making portraits stand out.

On the flip side, the Panasonic ZS20, with its fixed zoom lens maxing out at f/3.3 aperture wide-open, produces harsher backgrounds and less subject isolation. Autofocus is contrast-based on the small sensor and slower to lock on, though it did well with face detection in good light. Skin tones appeared slightly less nuanced, likely due to JPEG processing with no raw support.

If portraits are a priority, the Olympus E-P1 offers substantial advantages in both image quality and creative control.

Landscape Photography: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Weather Sealing

Landscape photographers require high resolution, wide dynamic range for tricky scenes, and rugged bodies for diverse environments.

While neither camera offers weather sealing, the Olympus’s larger sensor and native raw support made it my primary choice on weekend nature hikes. Its 12MP Four Thirds sensor delivers crisp results up to 1600 ISO, capturing nuanced gradations in skies and foliage. Post-processing flexibility is excellent thanks to raw files.

The Panasonic ZS20, on the other hand, offered super wide to telephoto reach (24-480mm equivalent), enabling creative framing from sweeping vistas to distant mountain peaks without swapping lenses. However, its small sensor limited raw dynamic range and detail. The in-camera JPEG shooting can be prone to highlight clipping on bright days.

I would designate the Olympus E-P1 as the go-to landscape camera for image quality, while the Panasonic ZS20 is more about convenience and versatility.

Wildlife Photography: Autofocus Speed, Reach, and Burst Rate

Wildlife shooters demand fast autofocus, high continuous shooting speeds, and long focal lengths.

The Panasonic ZS20’s 20x zoom lens covering 24-480mm (35mm equivalent) is its wild card. Combined with a respectable 10 fps continuous shooting burst, it can track casual moving subjects nicely. The contrast-detection autofocus with face/center tracking is fairly responsive and suitable for novice wildlife snaps.

Conversely, the Olympus E-P1 supports manual and autofocus but maxes at 3 fps burst rate, limiting rapid action capture. Its 11 contrast-detection AF points and face detection work well for stationary or slow-moving subjects, especially with telephoto Micro Four Thirds lenses, but it’s not ideal for birds in flight.

In my field tests photographing squirrels and birds, the ZS20’s reach and speed won for fleeting moments, while the Olympus produced higher-quality detailed stills given time.

Sports Photography: Tracking, Low Light, and Frame Rates

Fast action sports challenge camera responsiveness, tracking, and high ISO noise control.

In stark contrast to modern professional bodies, both these cameras fall short for fast-paced sports. The Olympus E-P1’s 3 fps continuous rate and lack of advanced AF tracking limited its effectiveness for rapidly moving athletes. Its low light performance was decent for the era but still noisy above ISO 1600.

The Panasonic ZS20 excels in burst speed (10 fps) but AF’s reliance on contrast detection and smaller sensor compromise focus accuracy and image quality in dim gymnasiums or evening sports.

Thus my takeaway is neither camera is well-suited for serious sports photography, but the ZS20 might edge out for casual snapshots due to speed.

Street Photography: Discreteness, Low Light, and Portability

When prowling urban landscapes, gear demands discretion, quick operation, and flexibility in unpredictable lighting.

The Panasonic ZS20’s compact size and silent operation make it ideal for unobtrusive street shooting. Its touchscreen AF and wide focal range enable rapid reframing. Low light struggles somewhat but remain manageable up to ISO 400-800 depending on scene.

The Olympus E-P1, despite its larger size, offers superior sensor performance and the option for fast prime lenses which deliver excellent low light and shallow depth of field effects preferred by many street photographers.

In practice, the ZS20 is great for travel and casual street shots, while serious amateurs might prefer the Olympus for its creative control.

Macro Photography: Focusing Precision and Stabilization

I tested both cameras in close-up scenarios around flowers and insects.

The Panasonic ZS20’s focusing down to 3cm is impressive for a compact; coupled with Optical Image Stabilization, I captured steady, detailed macro shots with good working distance.

Olympus E-P1 requires compatible macro lenses, which I paired with the 60mm f/2.8 macro. Results showed very high resolution and sharpness with effective sensor stabilization, but focusing speed was slower than the Panasonic’s autofocus in macro mode.

For macro enthusiasts, the ZS20 offers superb point-and-shoot convenience, while the E-P1 provides higher quality given the right lenses and patient manual focus.

Night and Astrophotography: ISO Behavior and Exposure Control

Shooting in very low light or star-scapes places a premium on sensor sensitivity, low noise, and long exposure capability.

Olympus E-P1’s ability to shoot up to ISO 6400 (though raw usability peaks lower) combined with exposure control to 60 seconds gives it versatility. Long exposures produce usable images with manageable noise, making it my preferred choice for amateur astrophotography.

Panasonic ZS20 supports long shutter times up to 15 seconds but falters with noise and lacks raw file support. Video capture is a plus at night, but still photos degrade rapidly at high ISO.

Clear winner here is the E-P1 for extended night shooting and cleaner low light images.

Video Capabilities and Practical Use

Video increasingly matters for hybrid shooters.

The ZS20 records full HD 1080p at 60fps and includes MPEG-4 and AVCHD support, appealing for capturing smooth, detailed video on the go. Its touchscreen facilitates focus pulling in video, but no microphone jack limits sound quality.

Olympus E-P1 maxes out at 720p 30fps recorded in Motion JPEG, which is dated and less efficient. No mic input or headphone output limits professional use.

The Panasonic’s video features make it the better casual all-round multimedia camera.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery, and Size

For globetrotters, size, weight, battery life, and flexibility matter.

The Olympus E-P1 is bulkier and heavier with a 300-shot battery rating. Its lens system adds weight but offers artistic flexibility.

Panasonic ZS20 wins in portability with 206 grams and Panasonic’s built-in GPS geotagging convenience – a boon for travel logs.

Battery on the ZS20 rated around 260 shots, adequate for day trips but better carrying extra batteries.

Reliability and Workflow for Professional Use

Though neither camera is designed for heavy professional use, Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds system supports raw shooting and professional-grade lenses, easing postproduction workflow. The Olympus uses USB 2.0 and HDMI out; no wireless features on either unit.

Panasonic ZS20 lacks raw support, limiting professional editing flexibility.

Summarizing Performance Scores

To visually synthesize these insights, I refer to this overall performance rating chart based on my and DxOmark’s measurements:

Alongside this genre-specific performance breakdown:

Sample Shots from Both Cameras: What You Can Expect

Here’s a gallery of my shoots from both cameras highlighting their strengths and weaknesses:

Olympus E P1 front Olympus E P1 screen back Panasonic ZS20 front Panasonic ZS20 screen back

Note the richer color tone and control in the Olympus portraits, compared to ZS20’s reach in telephoto wildlife shots.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Olympus E-P1 if you:

• Want interchangeable lenses and artistic control
• Prioritize image quality in portraits, landscapes, night shooting
• Like manual focus and classic handling ergonomics
• Plan to process raw images professionally
• Don’t mind carrying a slightly bigger body

Choose the Panasonic ZS20 if you:

• Need all-in-one zoom versatility for travel and wildlife
• Prefer compact, lightweight, pocketable camera
• Appreciate touchscreen usability and decent Full HD video
• Shoot casual photos and videos, mainly JPEG
• Want GPS tagging and fast action burst rates

Closing Thoughts From My Experience

The Olympus E-P1 remains a pioneering micro four-thirds mirrorless that delivers surprisingly refined image quality despite its age. It rewards photographers who enjoy deliberate shooting and creativity with lenses. The Panasonic ZS20 impresses with superzoom range and ergonomic convenience, ideal for on-the-go snapshots with video.

In my extensive testing, I found that neither supersedes the other overall - they shine in complementary niches. Your choice ultimately depends on what kind of photography you love and how much manual control or portability you demand. I hope this detailed, hands-on comparison guides you toward a camera that truly fuels your creative journey.

Disclosure: I have no financial ties to either Olympus or Panasonic. These evaluations reflect my independent expertise after practical testing under diverse conditions. For further inquiries or gear recommendations, feel free to connect.

Happy shooting!