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Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Zeiss ZX1 front
Portability
67
Imaging
78
Features
62
Overall
71

Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Announced January 2016
Zeiss ZX1
(Full Review)
  • 37MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 35mm (F2-22) lens
  • 800g - 142 x 93 x 46mm
  • Launched September 2018
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Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Zeiss. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and ZX1 (37MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and ZX1 (Full frame) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The PEN-F was revealed 3 years prior to the ZX1 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Zeiss ZX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick overview of how the PEN-F scores versus the ZX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Zeiss ZX1

 PEN-F ZX1 
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Zeiss ZX1 over the Olympus PEN-F

 ZX1 PEN-F 
LaunchedSeptember 2018January 2016Newer by 32 months
Screen dimensions4.34"3"Bigger screen (+1.34")
Screen resolution2765k1037kSharper screen (+1728k dot)

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Zeiss ZX1

 PEN-F ZX1 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus PEN-F has got physical measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Zeiss ZX1 has proportions of 142mm x 93mm x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Examine the Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the PEN-F compared to the ZX1.

Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the PEN-F and ZX1 is 84 and 67 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specifications. The image underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the PEN-F and ZX1.

Plainly, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The PEN-F with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Zeiss ZX1 will give extra detail because of its extra 17MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged PEN-F is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography highlights
Zeiss ZX1 Portrait photography highlights
75
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
86
manual focus
MP count amazing (37 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography advice
Zeiss ZX1 Street photography advice
84
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
70
screen can move to multiple angles
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
has touch to focus
above average ISO range (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competitors in class (800g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography features
Zeiss ZX1 Sports photography features
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
low battery (330 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
64
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count amazing (37MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography details
Zeiss ZX1 Travel photography details
75
has focus by touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
low battery (330 shots)
65
supports bluetooth
has touch to focus
MP count amazing (37 megapixels)
fast maximum aperture (f2)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors in class (800 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Landscape photography camera
Zeiss ZX1 as a Landscape photography camera
76
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
low battery (330 per charge)
69
manual focus
fast maximum aperture (f2)
bigger than average screen (4.34 inches)
MP count amazing (37MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging factors
Zeiss ZX1 Vlogging factors
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of mic port
31
fast maximum aperture (f2)
touchscreen functionality
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (800 grams)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Zeiss ZX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Zeiss ZX1
 Olympus PEN-FZeiss ZX1
General Information
Make Olympus Zeiss
Model Olympus PEN-F Zeiss ZX1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2016-01-27 2018-09-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 36 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 864.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 37 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 7488 x 4992
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 255
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture - f/2-22
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 4.34 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dots 2,765k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 6,221k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427g (0.94 lbs) 800g (1.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 142 x 93 x 46mm (5.6" x 3.7" x 1.8")
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 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC 512GB internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $1,000 -