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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS200
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the ZS100 (20MP) is pretty close but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and ZS100 (1") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 3 years earlier than the ZS100 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-PM2 matches up against the ZS100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic ZS100

 E-PM2 ZS100 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Olympus E-PM2

 ZS100 E-PM2 
IntroducedJanuary 2016May 2013Newer by 31 months
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic ZS100

 E-PM2 ZS100 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS100 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the ZS100.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and ZS100 is 89 and 87 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The pic below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and ZS100.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM2 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS100 will render extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-PM2 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
64
manual focus
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS100 Street photography information
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
78
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
lighter than others (312 grams)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography factors
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
67
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS100 as a Travel photography camera
66
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
75
lighter than others (312 grams)
has touch to focus
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS100
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
68
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging features
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic port
35
quite wide (25mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others (312g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic ZS100
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-05-21 2016-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames per second 9.9 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 8.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes 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
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 312g (0.69 pounds)
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 score 72 70
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.5
DXO Low light score 932 559
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 300 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $448 $700