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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
53
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 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
  • Revealed November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Launched January 2016
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS200
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS100, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was brought out 5 years prior to the ZS100 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-PM1 scores versus the ZS100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic ZS100

 E-PM1 ZS100 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus E-PM1

 ZS100 E-PM1 
LaunchedJanuary 2016November 2011Newer by 50 months
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS100

 E-PM1 ZS100 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 has got exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS100 has measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the ZS100.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and ZS100 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading technical specs. The picture below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and ZS100.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS100 will offer extra detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography advice
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
65
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Street photography camera
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
78
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
lighter than competition (312g)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography highlights
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
68
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with tracking focus
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Travel photography camera
45
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
75
lighter than competition (312g)
has touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
68
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Vlogging camera
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing external mic jack
36
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (312 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-11-23 2016-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per second 9.9 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 265g (0.58 lb) 312g (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 52 70
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 12.5
DXO Low light rating 499 559
Other
Battery life 330 shots 300 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Launch cost $499 $700