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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Renewed by Olympus E-PL7
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS50
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL6 (16MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PL6 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL6 was unveiled 5 months before the ZS45 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the E-PL6 scores against the ZS45 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Panasonic ZS45

 E-PL6 ZS45 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus E-PL6

 ZS45 E-PL6 
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS45

 E-PL6 ZS45 
AnnouncedAugust 2014January 2015Same age
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PL6 comes with physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS45 has proportions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-PL6 against the ZS45.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL6 and ZS45 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The graphic below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL6 and ZS45.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-PL6 contains the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF easier.

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography details
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
good ISO range (25,600)
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (249g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
55
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery life (350 CIPA)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PL6
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS45
85
has touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
71
good battery life (350 shots)
lighter than competitors (249 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography details
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
47
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
good battery life (350 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL6 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging features
79
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
missing mic jack
34
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (249 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external mic support
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Olympus E-PL6 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL6 and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus PEN E-PL6Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-08-01 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 21
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 249 gr (0.55 pounds)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 350 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $300 $300