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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-145 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 Key Specs

Olympus VG-145
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ6
Photography Glossary

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the VG-145 (14MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the VG-145 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The VG-145 was announced 2 years later than the ZS1 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the VG-145 grades against the ZS1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Panasonic ZS1

 VG-145 ZS1 
RevealedJuly 2011May 2009More recent by 27 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Olympus VG-145

 ZS1 VG-145 

Common features in the Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZS1

 VG-145 ZS1 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus VG-145 comes with external measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS1 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the VG-145 vs the ZS1.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the VG-145 and ZS1 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specifications. The photograph below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the VG-145 and ZS1.

Plainly, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The VG-145 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus VG-145 will deliver more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more modern VG-145 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus VG-145
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS1
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
25
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS1 Street photography info
48
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-145
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS1
26
good megapixels (14MP)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (160 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-145 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Travel photography camera
62
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (160 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than average in class (229 grams)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic ZS1 Landscape photography factors
36
quite wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery (160 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging factors
28
quite wide (26mm)
provides face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (229g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZS1
 Olympus VG-145Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-145 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-07-27 2009-05-14
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120 grams (0.26 lbs) 229 grams (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 160 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $0 $0