Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS1

The following is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic ZS1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") provide different sensor size.

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The E-PL5 was released 3 years after the ZS1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PL5 matches up vs the ZS1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PL5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery & Panasonic ZS1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL5 has physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS1 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic ZS1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PL5 versus the ZS1.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and ZS1 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions only by seeing specs. The pic below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and ZS1.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will provide more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The newer E-PL5 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.