Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic ZS100

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.

Photography Glossary

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.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Panasonic ZS100 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.