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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
43
Overall
45
Olympus PEN E-PL1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 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
  • Launched May 2010
  • New Model is Olympus E-PL1s
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS45
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Below is a complete review of the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL1 (12MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is fairly similar but the E-PL1 (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL1 was released 5 years before the ZS50 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-PL1 scores versus the ZS50 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL1 over the Panasonic ZS50

 E-PL1 ZS50 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus E-PL1

 ZS50 E-PL1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015May 2010More recent by 56 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS50

 E-PL1 ZS50 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL1 has got outer measurements of 115mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 334 grams (0.74 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS50 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PL1 versus the ZS50.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL1 and ZS50 is 86 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing specifications. The photograph below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL1 and ZS50.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide the same MP but different sensor measurements. The E-PL1 comes with the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field simpler. The older E-PL1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography information
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
42
manual focus
offers face detect focus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS50 Street photography advice
74
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
68
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lighter than others (243g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Sports photography camera
44
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery life (290 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery life (290 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
66
lighter than others (243g)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography info
55
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12MP)
low battery life (290 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
51
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL1 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging info
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone jack
34
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (243 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL1 vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL1 and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus PEN E-PL1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-05-17 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR (Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 334g (0.74 pounds) 243g (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 44
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 20.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 11.2
DXO Low light score 487 138
Other
Battery life 290 shots 300 shots
Form 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
Storage type SD/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $288 $350