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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic ZS3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the E-P5 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) and the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-P5 was revealed 4 years later than the ZS3 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-P5 scores versus the ZS3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Panasonic ZS3

 E-P5 ZS3 
IntroducedOctober 2013May 2009Fresher by 54 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Olympus E-P5

 ZS3 E-P5 

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic ZS3

 E-P5 ZS3 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-P5 has got outer dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic ZS3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-P5 vs the ZS3.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-P5 and ZS3 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by checking technical specs. The graphic here may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P5 and ZS3.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P5 using its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-P5 will give you extra detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The fresher E-P5 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320 seconds)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography advice
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
more heavy than average (420 grams)
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229g)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-P5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS3
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect autofocus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
68
provides touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
more heavy than average (420g)
display is not selfie friendly
63
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography features
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging information
33
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than average (420 grams)
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic ZS3
 Olympus PEN E-P5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-P5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-10-03 2009-05-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (ISO 100) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 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 AVCHD Lite
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 420 gr (0.93 lbs) 229 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $389 $200