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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Olympus VG-145 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
30
Overall
33

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 Key Specs

Olympus VG-145
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F2.8-6.5) lens
  • 120g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
Panasonic ZS5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 214g - 103 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ8
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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus VG-145 versus Panasonic ZS5, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the VG-145 (14MP) and the ZS5 (12MP) is relatively similar and both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The VG-145 was introduced 14 months later than the ZS5 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus VG-145 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the VG-145 grades against the ZS5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus VG-145 over the Panasonic ZS5

 VG-145 ZS5 
AnnouncedJuly 2011June 2010More recent by 14 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS5 over the Olympus VG-145

 ZS5 VG-145 

Common features in the Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZS5

 VG-145 ZS5 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus VG-145 features outside measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while 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).

Take a look at the Olympus VG-145 versus Panasonic ZS5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the VG-145 versus the ZS5.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the VG-145 and ZS5 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The visual underneath might give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the VG-145 and ZS5.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus VG-145 to offer you more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern VG-145 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 sensor size comparison

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VG-145 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
27
supports face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS5 Street photography information
48
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus VG-145
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS5
26
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (160 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
31
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VG-145 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS5 as a Travel photography camera
62
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (160 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than competitors in class (214 grams)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS5 Landscape photography highlights
36
pretty wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
terrible battery power (160 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
33
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VG-145 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS5 Vlogging info
28
pretty wide (26mm)
supports face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (214g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
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Olympus VG-145 vs Panasonic ZS5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VG-145 and Panasonic ZS5
 Olympus VG-145Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus VG-145 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ8
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-07-27 2010-06-16
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III Venus Engine HD II
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-6.5 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1300 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 120 grams (0.26 lbs) 214 grams (0.47 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 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 160 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-70B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $0 $300