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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Released June 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS15, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and ZS15 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL9 was revealed 5 years later than the ZS15 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-PL9 scores versus the ZS15 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL9 ZS15 
ReleasedFebruary 2018June 2012More recent by 69 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ZS15 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS15

 E-PL9 ZS15 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PL9 enjoys exterior measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS15 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS15 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 depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PL9 vs the ZS15.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and ZS15 is 85 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by looking through specs. The visual underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and ZS15.

All in all, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-PL9 will render extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The newer E-PL9 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography information
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography advice
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports touch to focus
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (208 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS15
69
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (260 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography information
77
connects via bluetooth
supports touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
61
lighter than others (208 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (260 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL9
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS15
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
37
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW files
not so great battery power (260 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL9
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS15
35
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (208g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2018-02-08 2012-06-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 8.6 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 380 grams (0.84 lbs) 208 grams (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 shots 260 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $599 $279