Olympus E-P5 vs Panasonic ZS7

Here, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic ZS7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-P5 (16MP) and ZS7 (12MP) and the E-P5 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-P5 was unveiled 2 years later than the ZS7 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-P5 scores versus the ZS7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-P5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-P5 Gallery and Panasonic ZS7 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-P5 offers outer dimensions of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS7 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-P5 versus Panasonic ZS7 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-P5 vs the ZS7.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-P5 and ZS7 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing just by checking specs. The visual here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-P5 and ZS7.

All in all, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-P5 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-P5 will give greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-P5 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.