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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Announced January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS60
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and ZS50 (12MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and ZS50 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was announced 13 months after the ZS50 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the PEN-F scores vs the ZS50 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic ZS50

 PEN-F ZS50 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016January 2015More modern by 13 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Olympus PEN-F

 ZS50 PEN-F 
Screen resolution1040k1037kClearer screen (+3k dot)

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS50

 PEN-F ZS50 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus PEN-F offers outer dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS50 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is a front view proportions comparison of the PEN-F and the ZS50.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the PEN-F and ZS50 is 84 and 90 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by going through specifications. The picture here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the PEN-F and ZS50.

Plainly, both cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F using its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will produce more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography info
75
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
42
has manual focus
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus PEN-F
Street photography with Panasonic ZS50
84
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
68
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (243g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus PEN-F
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS50
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
not so great battery power (330 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS50 as a Travel photography camera
75
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery power (330 CIPA)
66
lighter than competition in class (243 grams)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography info
76
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
not so great battery power (330 CIPA)
51
has manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging features
78
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lack of mic jack
34
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (243 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic ZS50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic ZS50
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ70
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-01-27 2015-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 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
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 1,166 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.40 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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lbs) 243 grams (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 44
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 20.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 11.2
DXO Low light rating 894 138
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 300 pictures
Battery format 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 $350