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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed September 2012
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-PL5 (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) and the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL5 was manufactured 3 months later than the ZS15 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PL5 matches up against the ZS15 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL5 ZS15 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-PL5

 ZS15 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL5 ZS15 
LaunchedSeptember 2012June 2012Same age
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 provides external 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) and the Panasonic ZS15 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the ZS15.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL5 and ZS15 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The visual here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and ZS15.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL5 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will show greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
21
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography info
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (208 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
36
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography factors
75
boasts focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
61
lighter than others in class (208g)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (384mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery (260 CIPA)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL5
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
missing Timelapse function
37
quite wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery (260 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging info
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing external microphone port
33
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (208 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-09-17 2012-06-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.40 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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325g (0.72 pounds) 208g (0.46 pounds)
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 All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 260 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $400 $279