Clicky

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Launched January 2014
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ8
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and ZS5 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The SP-100 was unveiled 3 years after the ZS5 which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the SP-100 grades versus the ZS5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Panasonic ZS5

 SP-100 ZS5 
IntroducedJanuary 2014June 2010Newer by 45 months
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus SP-100

 ZS5 SP-100 

Common features in the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZS5

 SP-100 ZS5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus SP-100 has outer measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") and a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS5 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the SP-100 compared to the ZS5.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-100 and ZS5 is 63 and 92 respectively.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions only by reviewing technical specs. The image underneath might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the SP-100 and ZS5.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus SP-100 to offer you greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The newer SP-100 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Portrait photography highlights
44
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
27
comes with face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography advice
42
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
more heavy than average in class (594 grams)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (214 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SP-100
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
53
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
31
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,300 seconds)
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SP-100
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS5
53
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
no Timelapse recording
more heavy than average in class (594g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
63
lighter than average in class (214 grams)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
no Timelapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography advice
47
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
33
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-100
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS5
29
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone jack
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.9)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
more heavy than average in class (594g)
31
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (214g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no microphone socket
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus Stylus SP-100Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2014-01-29 2010-06-16
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Highest boosted ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.9-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920 thousand dots -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1700 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 594 gr (1.31 lbs) 214 gr (0.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") 103 x 60 x 32mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $400 $300