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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 380g - 117 x 68 x 39mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL8
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
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS50
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

The following is a comprehensive analysis of the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS45, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PL9 (16MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") boast different sensor measurements.

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The E-PL9 was revealed 3 years after the ZS45 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-PL9 grades against the ZS45 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic ZS45

 E-PL9 ZS45 
RevealedFebruary 2018January 2015Newer by 38 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ZS45 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS45

 E-PL9 ZS45 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution1040k1040kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL9 has exterior 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 ZS45 has specifications of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS45 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL9 vs the ZS45.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PL9 and ZS45 is 85 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions just by reading through specifications. The pic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL9 and ZS45.

Plainly, both the cameras provide the same megapixels albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-PL9 offers the bigger sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF easier. The younger E-PL9 provides an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography info
73
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
37
decent megapixels (16MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography highlights
84
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports focus by touch
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PL9
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
69
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
56
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery (350 shots)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Travel photography camera
77
supports bluetooth
supports focus by touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is not selfie friendly
71
better than average battery (350 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (249 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography information
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
48
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
better than average battery (350 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Vlogging camera
35
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
34
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (249g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2018-02-08 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII -
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias 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 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 121 21
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, manual, redeye reduction, slow sync w/redeye reduction, slow sync , slow sync 2nd-curtain, fill-in, off Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 380 grams (0.84 lb) 249 grams (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 350 photographs 350 photographs
Type of battery 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
Card slots One One
Launch price $599 $300