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Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29
Olympus Stylus 9000 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Olympus 9000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-280mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 225g - 96 x 60 x 31mm
  • Released May 2009
  • Alternative Name is mju 9000
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS15
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS25
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Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Here is a complete review of the Olympus 9000 and Panasonic ZS20, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the 9000 (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very well matched and they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The 9000 was manufactured 3 years before the ZS20 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short view of how the 9000 scores against the ZS20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 9000 over the Panasonic ZS20

 9000 ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Olympus 9000

 ZS20 9000 
IntroducedApril 2012May 2009Fresher by 35 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus 9000 and Panasonic ZS20

 9000 ZS20 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus 9000 enjoys physical measurements of 96mm x 60mm x 31mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 225 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Check out the Olympus 9000 and Panasonic ZS20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the 9000 compared to the ZS20.

Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 9000 and ZS20 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the 9000 and ZS20.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS20 to give you greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images much more aggressively. The older 9000 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 9000 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography details
21
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
30
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus 9000 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography advice
53
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than competitors (225 grams)
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus 9000
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 9000 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
long zoom (280mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (225 grams)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
68
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
supports focus by touch
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery pack (260 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus 9000
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (260 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 9000 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging features
27
reasonably wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (225 grams)
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus 9000 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 9000 and Panasonic ZS20
 Olympus Stylus 9000Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus 9000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Otherwise known as mju 9000 Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-05-14 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 50 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-280mm (10.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 225 gr (0.50 lbs) 206 gr (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 60 x 31mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $300 $349