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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 front
Portability
91
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2012
Panasonic ZS10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 219g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic ZS10, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the ZS10 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and ZS10 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was introduced 21 months after the ZS10 making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS10 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-PL5 grades versus the ZS10 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic ZS10

 E-PL5 ZS10 
RevealedSeptember 2012January 2011Newer by 21 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS10 over the Olympus E-PL5

 ZS10 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS10

 E-PL5 ZS10 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 comes with external measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS10 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 219 grams (0.48 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 versus Panasonic ZS10 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PL5 against the ZS10.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and ZS10 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to picture the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specifications. The picture underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and ZS10.

To sum up, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will provide greater detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more recent E-PL5 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS10
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
30
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS10 Street photography information
85
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
lighter than others in class (219 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS10 Sports photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (260 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS10 as a Travel photography camera
75
features touch focus
MP count good (16MP)
selfie friendly display
no Timelapse function
67
lighter than others in class (219 grams)
boasts touch focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (260 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS10 Landscape photography advice
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
no Timelapse function
42
really wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
terrible battery life (260 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS10 Vlogging features
78
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no external microphone port
34
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (219 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS10
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ20 / Lumix DMC-TZ22
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-09-17 2011-01-25
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lbs) 219 grams (0.48 lbs)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
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
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $400 $350