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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 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 ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS40
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS50
Photography Glossary

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS45, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and ZS45 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was launched 13 months later than the ZS45 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the PEN-F scores versus the ZS45 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic ZS45

 PEN-F ZS45 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016January 2015Fresher by 13 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Olympus PEN-F

 ZS45 PEN-F 
Display resolution1040k1037kClearer display (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS45

 PEN-F ZS45 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F enjoys outside measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") and a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS45 has specifications of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS45 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the PEN-F against the ZS45.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and ZS45 is 84 and 91 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing just by going over technical specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and ZS45.

As you have seen, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The PEN-F featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus PEN-F will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography advice
75
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
37
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detect focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography advice
84
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
69
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (249 grams)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography details
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography details
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
bad battery pack (330 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
55
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
good battery (350 shots)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography info
75
comes with focus by touch
good MP (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery pack (330 per charge)
71
good battery (350 CIPA)
lighter than average (249 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS45
76
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
bad battery pack (330 shots)
47
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
good battery (350 per charge)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus PEN-F
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
78
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no microphone support
34
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (249 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no microphone support
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS45
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-01-27 2015-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 21
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 427 gr (0.94 lbs) 249 gr (0.55 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 images 350 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $1,000 $300