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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-P3
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS50
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic ZS45, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-P5 (16MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is very close but the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-P5 was revealed 15 months before the ZS45 making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-P5 grades vs the ZS45 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Panasonic ZS45

 E-P5 ZS45 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus E-P5

 ZS45 E-P5 
RevealedJanuary 2015October 2013More recent by 15 months
Display resolution1040k1037kCrisper display (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic ZS45

 E-P5 ZS45 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-P5 comes with outer dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS45 has specifications of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic ZS45 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-P5 against the ZS45.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-P5 and ZS45 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by viewing specifications. The graphic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-P5 and ZS45.

Plainly, the two cameras have the same MP but not the same sensor measurements. The E-P5 includes the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier. The older E-P5 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
37
MP count good (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography info
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
heavier than others (420 grams)
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (249 grams)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
56
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography details
68
supports focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
heavier than others (420 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
71
great battery pack (350 shots)
lighter than average in class (249g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-P5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
48
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
great battery pack (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-P5 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging advice
33
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic support
heavier than others (420g)
34
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (249 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone support
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Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-P5 and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus PEN E-P5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-P5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-10-03 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 21
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 420 grams (0.93 lbs) 249 grams (0.55 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 895 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 350 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $389 $300