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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Launched September 2012
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS25
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL5 was released 5 months after the ZS20 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL5 scores against the ZS20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-PL5 ZS20 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-PL5

 ZS20 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-PL5 ZS20 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012April 2012Similar age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL5 provides exterior 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) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the E-PL5 and the ZS20.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and ZS20 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking a spec sheet. The image here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL5 and ZS20.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PL5 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-PL5 will resolve extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
supports RAW formats
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography features
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competitors (206g)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography info
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography info
75
features focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse mode
68
lighter than competitors (206g)
boasts touch to focus
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (260 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography highlights
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse mode
42
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
34
relatively wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (206g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-09-17 2012-04-26
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 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 grams (0.72 lbs) 206 grams (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images 260 images
Type 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $400 $349