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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 334g - 115 x 72 x 42mm
  • Revealed May 2010
  • Successor is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL1 was revealed 23 months earlier than the ZS20 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-PL1 scores versus the ZS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-PL1 ZS20 
Focus manually More precise focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-PL1

 ZS20 E-PL1 
AnnouncedApril 2012May 2010Newer by 23 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-PL1 ZS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL1 provides physical dimensions of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") and a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PL1 versus the ZS20.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL1 and ZS20 is 86 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specifications. The pic here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL1 and ZS20.

Plainly, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL1 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS20 will provide you with more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged E-PL1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
30
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography info
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than average in class (206g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography advice
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (290 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery power (290 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than average in class (206g)
comes with focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery (260 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography features
55
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
low battery power (290 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
42
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery (260 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging factors
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
34
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (206g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-05-17 2012-04-26
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334 grams (0.74 lbs) 206 grams (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 487 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 pictures 260 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $288 $349