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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic ZS1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ZS1 (1/2.5") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL9 was brought out 8 years later than the ZS1 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PL9 grades vs the ZS1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic ZS1

 E-PL9 ZS1 
ReleasedFebruary 2018May 2009More recent by 107 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ZS1 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS1

 E-PL9 ZS1 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with external measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS1 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PL9 versus Panasonic ZS1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL9 vs the ZS1.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and ZS1 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the difference in sensor measurements just by going through specifications. The photograph below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and ZS1.

To sum up, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-PL9 will show more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger E-PL9 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL9
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS1
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
25
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL9
Street photography with Panasonic ZS1
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography features
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography features
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography details
77
connects via bluetooth
provides focus by touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have selfie friendly display
63
lighter than competitors (229g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS1
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS1
35
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (229g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2018-02-08 2009-05-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 gr (0.84 pounds) 229 gr (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 350 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $599 $0