Clicky

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced November 2011
  • Later Model is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic TS4
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 197g - 103 x 64 x 27mm
  • Announced January 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FT4
  • Succeeded the Panasonic TS3
  • Renewed by Panasonic TS5
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic TS4, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Waterproof by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the TS4 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and TS4 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor size.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The E-PM1 was manufactured 2 months prior to the TS4 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic TS4 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-PM1 grades vs the TS4 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic TS4

 E-PM1 TS4 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic TS4 over the Olympus E-PM1

 TS4 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic TS4

 E-PM1 TS4 
AnnouncedNovember 2011January 2012Same age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 has got outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic TS4 has proportions of 103mm x 64mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") having a weight of 197 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic TS4 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-PM1 vs the TS4.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and TS4 is 89 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by checking out specifications. The visual here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and TS4.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer the same exact megapixels but not the same sensor sizing. The E-PM1 contains the larger sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field less difficult.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic TS4 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
21
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
61
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic TS4 Sports photography factors
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12MP)
no phase detect autofocus
38
image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery pack (310 CIPA)
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300s)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Panasonic TS4 Travel photography information
45
missing Timelapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
66
better than average battery pack (310 shots)
environment proof
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography information
Panasonic TS4 Landscape photography information
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
41
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
better than average battery pack (310 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic TS4 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
32
really wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic TS4 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic TS4
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FT4
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Announced 2011-11-23 2012-01-31
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
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 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1300s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 gr (0.58 lb) 197 gr (0.43 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 103 x 64 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 310 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $499 $399