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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Introduced January 2016
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS20
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and ZS15 (12MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and ZS15 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The PEN-F was launched 3 years after the ZS15 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the PEN-F scores vs the ZS15 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic ZS15

 PEN-F ZS15 
IntroducedJanuary 2016June 2012More modern by 44 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Olympus PEN-F

 ZS15 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS15

 PEN-F ZS15 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus PEN-F provides external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has sizing of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Check the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 in the all new 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 are using during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the PEN-F and the ZS15.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and ZS15 is 84 and 92 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to see the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The pic underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and ZS15.

Clearly, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos way more aggressively. The fresher PEN-F is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography details
75
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
21
no manual focus
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography features
Panasonic ZS15 Street photography features
84
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography details
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
not so great battery power (330 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
36
incredible zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography details
75
comes with touch to focus
good resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery power (330 CIPA)
61
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (384mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery power (260 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography details
76
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (330 shots)
37
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
bad battery power (260 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS15
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
33
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (208 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone port
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS15
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2016-01-27 2012-06-29
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS 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 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 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 Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 pounds) 208 grams (0.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 260 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $1,000 $279