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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
89 Imaging
48 Features
52 Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92 Imaging
35 Features
30 Overall
33

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
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
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is very well matched but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and ZS5 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was released 18 months later than the ZS5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-PM1 scores against the ZS5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic ZS5

		

		

			
 E-PM1 ZS5 
IntroducedNovember 2011June 2010Fresher by 18 months
Manual focus  Dial exact focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus E-PM1

		

		

			
 ZS5 E-PM1 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS5

		

		

			
 E-PM1 ZS5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen  Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display  Lack of Touch friendly display
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
When you are looking to carry your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 offers external dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS5 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).
Examine the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the E-PM1 and the ZS5.
Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison
Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and ZS5 is 89 and 92 respectively.
Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and ZS5.
Clearly, the 2 cameras have got the exact same resolution but different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 includes the larger sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF easier. The more modern E-PM1 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.
	
			Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
 Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
 Panasonic ZS5 as a Portrait photography camera
60
 focusing manually
 sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
 comes with face detection focusing
 delivers RAW files
 resolution not great (12 megapixels)
27
 has face detection focusing
 no manual focus
 external flash not possible
 low megapixels (12MP)
 sensor size is small (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison
Olympus E-PM1 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography info
75
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
 delivers RAW files
 screen does not articulate
61
 image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competition (214g)
 no moving screen
 sensor size is small (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison
Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS5 Sports photography details
49
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
 comes with tracking autofocus
 max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
 resolution not great (12MP)
 no phase detect AF
31
 image stabilization (Optical)
 has tracking autofocus
 low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
 max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
 low megapixels (12MP)
 sensor size is small (1/2.3")
 doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison
Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography features
Panasonic ZS5 Travel photography features
45
 lack of Timelapse function
 resolution not great (12MP)
 does not have a selfie friendly display
63
 lighter than competition (214 grams)
 flash built-in
 quite wide (25mm)
 very long zoom (300mm)
 missing Timelapse function
 low megapixels (12MP)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS5
65
 focusing manually
 switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 screen is a good size (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
 delivers RAW files
 resolution not great (12 megapixels)
 lack of Timelapse function
33
 quite wide (25mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 no manual focus
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
 screen is small (2.7")
 low megapixels (12 megapixels)
 sensor size is small (1/2.3")
 doesn't have RAW support
 missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS5
34
 image stabilization (Sensor based)
 comes with face detection focusing
 high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 does not have a selfie friendly display
 lack of external microphone socket
31
 quite wide (25mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 has face detection focusing
 lighter than competition (214g)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
 display isn't selfie friendly
 video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
 missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-11-23 2010-06-16
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI 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 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files    
Autofocusing
Manual focus    
AF touch    
Continuous AF    
AF single    
AF tracking    
Selective AF    
Center weighted AF    
AF multi area    
AF live view    
Face detect focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch operation    
Display tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash range no built-in flash 5.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack    
Headphone jack    
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proof    
Dust proof    
Shock proof    
Crush proof    
Freeze proof    
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lb) 214 grams (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording    
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $499 $300