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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Updated by Olympus E-PL7
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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-PL6 was announced 2 years later than the ZS20 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the E-PL6 scores against the ZS20 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Panasonic ZS20

 E-PL6 ZS20 
RevealedAugust 2014April 2012More recent by 28 months
Manual focus More precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus E-PL6

 ZS20 E-PL6 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS20

 E-PL6 ZS20 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Display resolution460k460kEqual display resolution
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL6 provides outside measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has specifications 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-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL6 vs the ZS20.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL6 and ZS20 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements merely by looking through specifications. The visual below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL6 and ZS20.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL6 having a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL6 will render extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more recent E-PL6 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
30
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus by touch
lighter than competitors (206 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Sports photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
supports tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography information
85
comes with focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
selfie friendly display
68
lighter than competitors (206 grams)
includes focus by touch
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography info
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
42
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery (260 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging highlights
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have external mic support
34
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (206g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-08-01 2012-04-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 grams (0.72 pounds) 206 grams (0.45 pounds)
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 All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 260 shots
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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $300 $349