Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic ZS50

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic ZS50, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the XZ-1 (10MP) and the ZS50 (12MP) is pretty close but the XZ-1 (1/1.63") and ZS50 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The XZ-1 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the ZS50 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the XZ-1 scores vs the ZS50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50. The full galleries are available at Olympus XZ-1 Gallery and Panasonic ZS50 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus XZ-1 enjoys outer measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS50 has measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic ZS50 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the XZ-1 and the ZS50.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the XZ-1 and ZS50 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor sizing only by viewing technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the XZ-1 and ZS50.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The XZ-1 having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS50 will provide you with greater detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older XZ-1 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.