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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 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 ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS50
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was released 4 years earlier than the ZS45 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-PM1 grades versus the ZS45 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic ZS45

 E-PM1 ZS45 
Manual focus More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus E-PM1

 ZS45 E-PM1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015November 2011Newer by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kCrisper display (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS45

 E-PM1 ZS45 
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys physical measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS45 has specifications of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PM1 and the ZS45.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and ZS45 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualize the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The picture below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and ZS45.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-PM1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography features
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
37
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography factors
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
69
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (249g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography advice
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
low fps (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery pack (350 shots)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography information
45
no Timelapse recording
low MP (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery pack (350 CIPA)
lighter than average (249g)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Landscape photography advice
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low MP (12MP)
no Timelapse recording
47
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (350 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external microphone socket
34
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (249 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-11-23 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 21
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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) 249g (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 350 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 1 1
Launch cost $499 $300