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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
85
Imaging
56
Features
78
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL9 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 6400 (Push 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  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL8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 ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PL9 (16MP) and ZS5 (12MP) and the E-PL9 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PL9 was manufactured 7 years later than the ZS5 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech 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 ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-PL9 matches up versus the ZS5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL9 over the Panasonic ZS5

 E-PL9 ZS5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2018June 2010More recent by 94 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kCrisper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-PL9

 ZS5 E-PL9 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS5

 E-PL9 ZS5 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL9 comes with outside measurements of 117mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 380 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS5 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-PL9 compared to the ZS5.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL9 and ZS5 is 85 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements just by going through a spec sheet. The visual here may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL9 and ZS5.

Clearly, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PL9 because of its larger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PL9 will provide extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images much more aggressively. The fresher E-PL9 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography features
73
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
27
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography features
84
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
supports touch focus
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (214g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography information
69
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect AF
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300 seconds)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography features
77
supports bluetooth
supports touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not feature selfie friendly screen
63
lighter than competition (214g)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography details
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
33
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL9 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Vlogging camera
35
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
31
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (214g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
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Olympus E-PL9 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL9 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus PEN E-PL9Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2018-02-08 2010-06-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 121 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 8.6fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m (at ISO 200) 5.30 m
Flash modes 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 lb) 214 grams (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 117 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Type of battery 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 1 1
Price at release $599 $300