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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Released January 2016
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-ZX1
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and ZR1 (12MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and ZR1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was manufactured 6 years after the ZR1 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the PEN-F matches up versus the ZR1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic ZR1

 PEN-F ZR1 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016July 2009More modern by 80 months
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Olympus PEN-F

 ZR1 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZR1

 PEN-F ZR1 

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F features outer measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic ZR1 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the PEN-F against the ZR1.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and ZR1 is 84 and 94 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing specs. The image below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and ZR1.

All in all, both of those cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus PEN-F will render more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography features
75
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography advice
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography advice
84
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Sports photography camera
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
bad battery (330 per charge)
no phase detect AF
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZR1 Travel photography factors
75
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
bad battery (330 CIPA)
57
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Landscape photography camera
76
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
bad battery (330 shots)
32
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Panasonic ZR1
78
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have microphone port
28
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZR1
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Other name - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-01-27 2009-07-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.10 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 427 grams (0.94 lbs) 158 grams (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,000 $280