Olympus 1 vs Panasonic ZS100

Let's look more closely at the Olympus 1 vs Panasonic ZS100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the 1 (12MP) and ZS100 (20MP) and the 1 (1/1.7") and ZS100 (1") use different sensor sizing.

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The 1 was launched 3 years earlier than the ZS100 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the 1 matches up against the ZS100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus 1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus 1 Gallery and Panasonic ZS100 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus 1 enjoys physical measurements of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") having a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS100 has sizing of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus 1 vs Panasonic ZS100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the 1 compared to the ZS100.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 1 and ZS100 is 79 and 87 respectively.

Often, its tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing technical specs. The picture here should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 and ZS100.

As you have seen, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 1 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Panasonic ZS100 will offer more detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged 1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.