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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 front
Portability
87
Imaging
47
Features
70
Overall
56

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 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
  • Introduced November 2011
  • New Model is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic ZS70
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 322g - 112 x 67 x 41mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ90
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS60
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS80
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS70, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and ZS70 (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and ZS70 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 6 years before the ZS70 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS70 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PM1 grades vs the ZS70 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic ZS70

 E-PM1 ZS70 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS70 over the Olympus E-PM1

 ZS70 E-PM1 
RevealedApril 2017November 2011More recent by 65 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kCrisper screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS70

 E-PM1 ZS70 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 has external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS70 has sizing of 112mm x 67mm x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") along with a weight of 322 grams (0.71 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS70 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 vs the ZS70.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and ZS70 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements merely by researching technical specs. The photograph here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and ZS70.

As you can tell, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-PM1 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic ZS70 will result in greater detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS70 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
54
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS70 as a Street photography camera
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
76
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
features focus via touch
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS70 Sports photography factors
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
61
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
supports tracking focus
great battery (380 shots)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM1
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS70
45
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
79
great battery (380 shots)
features focus via touch
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS70 Landscape photography info
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
62
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
saves RAW formats
great battery (380 per charge)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS70 Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone support
74
rather wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have microphone support
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic ZS70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic ZS70
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ90
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-11-23 2017-04-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.60 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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) 322g (0.71 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 112 x 67 x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 380 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 3 shots / 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $499 $450