Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS100

On this page, we are evaluating the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS100, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the ZS100 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL5 was introduced 4 years before the ZS100 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PL5 matches up against the ZS100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL5 Gallery and Panasonic ZS100 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL5 has outer measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS100 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS100 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the ZS100.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL5 and ZS100 is 88 and 87 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL5 and ZS100.

As you can see, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic ZS100 will give more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The older E-PL5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.