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Olympus E-PL5 vs Zeiss ZX1

The Olympus PEN E-PL5 and the Zeiss ZX1 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2012 and September 2018. The E-PL5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the ZX1 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-PL5) and a full frame (ZX1) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Zeiss provides 37.4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-PL5
versus
Zeiss ZX1
Olympus E-PL5   Zeiss ZX1
Mirrorless system camera Fixed lens compact camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses 35mm f/2.8
15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor 37.4 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 200-25,600 ISO 80-51,200
Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder (6221k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 4.3" LCD – 2765k dots
Tilting touchscreen Fixed touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationno shake reduction
360 shots per battery charge250 shots per battery charge
111 x 64 x 38 mm, 325 g 142 x 93 x 46 mm, 800 g
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Check E-PL5 offers at
ebay.com
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Check ZX1 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus PEN E-PL5 and the Zeiss ZX1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-PL5 and the Zeiss ZX1 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-PL5 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the ZX1 is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-PL5 vs Zeiss ZX1
Compare E-PL5 versus ZX1 top
Comparison E-PL5 or ZX1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Zeiss ZX1 is considerably larger (86 percent) than the Olympus E-PL5. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-PL5 nor the ZX1 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the ZX1 has a lens built in, whereas the E-PL5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-PL5 and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the E-PL5 gets 360 shots out of its Olympus BLS-5 battery, while the ZX1 can take 250 images on a single charge of its Zeiss DD-PS1A power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-PL5 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 i Sep 2012 US$ 599ebay.com
2.
 
Zeiss ZX1 142 mm 93 mm 46 mm 800 g 250 i Sep 2018 US$ 5 999ebay.com
3.
 
Leica Q2 130 mm 80 mm 92 mm 718 g 370 i Mar 2019 US$ 4 999 amazon.com
4.
 
Leica V-LUX 5 136 mm 97 mm 131 mm 812 g 350 i Jul 2019 US$ 1 249 amazon.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M10 119 mm 82 mm 46 mm 396 g 320 i Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 II 120 mm 83 mm 47 mm 390 g 320 i Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-P5 122 mm 69 mm 37 mm 420 g 330 i May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL3 110 mm 64 mm 37 mm 313 g 300 i Jun 2011 US$ 599ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-PL6 111 mm 64 mm 38 mm 325 g 360 i May 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-PL7 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 i Aug 2014 US$ 599ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-PL8 115 mm 67 mm 38 mm 357 g 350 i Sep 2016 US$ 549ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-PL9 117 mm 68 mm 39 mm 380 g 350 i Feb 2018 US$ 599ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-PM2 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 269 g 360 i Sep 2012 US$ 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 137 mm 99 mm 131 mm 831 g 360 i Jun 2014 US$ 899ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II 136 mm 97 mm 131 mm 810 g 350 i Feb 2019 US$ 899 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic G6 122 mm 85 mm 71 mm 390 g 340 i Apr 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI 102 mm 58 mm 43 mm 301 g 240 i Jun 2018 US$ 1 199ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Olympus E-PL5 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Zeiss ZX1 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the ZX1 is 284 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the E-PL5 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the ZX1 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Olympus E-PL5 and Zeiss ZX1 sensor measures

With 37.4MP, the ZX1 offers a higher resolution than the E-PL5 (15.9MP), but the ZX1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.81μm versus 3.76μm for the E-PL5) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the ZX1 is a much more recent model (by 6 years) than the E-PL5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Zeiss ZX1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the ZX1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 37.4 x 25 inches or 95.1 x 63.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 30 x 20 inches or 76.1 x 50.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 25 x 16.6 inches or 63.4 x 42.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-PL5 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus PEN E-PL5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Zeiss ZX1 are ISO 80 to ISO 51200 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-PL5 versus ZX1 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-PL5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388972
2.
 
Zeiss ZX1 Full Frame 37.4 7488 49924K/30p25.214.1275994
3.
 
Leica Q2 Full Frame 46.7 8368 55844K/30p26.413.5249196
4.
 
Leica V-LUX 5 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.212.458465
5.
 
Olympus E-M10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388472
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.112.584273
7.
 
Olympus E-P5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.489572
8.
 
Olympus E-PL3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.910.349952
9.
 
Olympus E-PL6 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.512.071768
10.
 
Olympus E-PL7 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.487372
11.
 
Olympus E-PL8 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p23.012.6103073
12.
 
Olympus E-PL9 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.112.8116274
13.
 
Olympus E-PM2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.712.293272
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.111.751764
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.112.454665
16.
 
Panasonic G6 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p21.311.563961
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.112.347864
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the ZX1 provides a better video resolution than the E-PL5. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the ZX1 has an electronic viewfinder (6221k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the E-PL5 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the E-PL5 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-3. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-PL5 and Zeiss ZX1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-PL5optional i3.0 / 460 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
2.
 
Zeiss ZX16221 i4.3 / 2765 fixed i 1/1000s 3.0/s i i
3.
 
Leica Q23680 i3.0 / 1040 fixed i 1/2000s 10.0/s i i
4.
 
Leica V-LUX 52360 i3.0 / 1240 swivel i 1/4000s 12.0/s i i
5.
 
Olympus E-M101440 i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 II2360 i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
7.
 
Olympus E-P5optional i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/8000s 9.0/s i i
8.
 
Olympus E-PL3optional i3.0 / 460 tilting i 1/4000s 5.5/s i i
9.
 
Olympus E-PL6optional i3.0 / 460 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
10.
 
Olympus E-PL7optional i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
11.
 
Olympus E-PL8optional i3.0 / 1037 tilting i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
12.
 
Olympus E-PL9i i3.0 / 1040 tilting i 1/4000s 8.6/s i i
13.
 
Olympus E-PM2optional i3.0 / 460 fixed i 1/4000s 8.0/s i i
14.
 
Panasonic FZ10002359 i3.0 / 921 swivel i 1/4000s 12.0/s i i
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II2360 i3.0 / 1240 swivel i 1/4000s 12.0/s i i
16.
 
Panasonic G61440 i3.0 / 1036 swivel i 1/4000s 7.0/s i i
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI2359 i3.0 / 1229 tilting i 1/2000s 24.0/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
  empty Camera
Model
The E-PL5 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the ZX1 does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the ZX1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The E-PL5 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the ZX1 uses an internal SSD.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus PEN E-PL5 and Zeiss ZX1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-PL5istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
2.
 
Zeiss ZX1istereo / monoiii3.1iii
3.
 
Leica Q2istereo / monoiiiiiii
4.
 
Leica V-LUX 5istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
5.
 
Olympus E-M10istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
7.
 
Olympus E-P5istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
8.
 
Olympus E-PL3istereo / iiimini2.0iii
9.
 
Olympus E-PL6istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
10.
 
Olympus E-PL7istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
11.
 
Olympus E-PL8istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
12.
 
Olympus E-PL9istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
13.
 
Olympus E-PM2istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
16.
 
Panasonic G6istereo / monoiimini2.0iii
17.
 
Sony RX100 VIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the ZX1 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the E-PL5 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the E-PL5 and the ZX1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-PL5 was replaced by the Olympus E-PL6, while the ZX1 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-PL5 and ZX1 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-PL5 Manual (free pdf) or the online Zeiss ZX1 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Olympus E-PL5 better than the Zeiss ZX1 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Reasons to prefer the Olympus PEN E-PL5:

  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/1000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
  • More compact: Is smaller (111x64mm vs 142x93mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (360 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2012).

ilogo

Advantages of the Zeiss ZX1:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (37.4 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 56%.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (4.3" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2765k vs 460k dots).
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the E-PL5 necessitates an extra lens.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • More prestigious: Has the Zeiss luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.
  • More modern: Reflects 6 years of technical progress since the E-PL5 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the ZX1 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 9 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-PL5 09:17 ZX1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-PL5 and the Zeiss ZX1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-PL5 or the ZX1. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-PL53/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 599ebay.com
2.
 
Zeiss ZX13/5....83/1004/54/5 Sep 2018 US$ 5 999ebay.com
3.
 
Leica Q2....4.5/584/1004.5/54/5 Mar 2019 US$ 4 999 amazon.com
4.
 
Leica V-LUX 5........4/54/5 Jul 2019 US$ 1 249 amazon.com
5.
 
Olympus E-M104/5....80/1005/55/5 Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-M10 II4.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-P55/5+ +..78/1004.5/55/5 May 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-PL33/5+ +..72/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 US$ 599ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-PL6............ May 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-PL74/5+....5/54/5 Aug 2014 US$ 599ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-PL8........4.5/54/5 Sep 2016 US$ 549ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-PL9..+....4.5/54/5 Feb 2018 US$ 599ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-PM23/5....77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ10004/5+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2014 US$ 899ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II......83/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2019 US$ 899 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic G64/5+ +....5/54.5/5 Apr 2013 US$ 599ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 VI4.5/5+ +..83/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2018 US$ 1 199ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Check E-PL5 offers at
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Check ZX1 offers at
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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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  • YI M1
  • Zeiss ZX1
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Specifications: Olympus E-PL5 vs Zeiss ZX1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

Camera Specifications
Camera Model Olympus E-PL5 Zeiss ZX1
Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Fixed lens compact camera
Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses 35mm f/2.8
Launch Date September 2012 September 2018
Launch Price USD 599 USD 5,999
Sensor Specs Olympus E-PL5 Zeiss ZX1
Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 36.0 x 24.0 mm
Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 864 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 43.3 mm
Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels 37.4 Megapixels
Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 7488 x 4992 pixels
Pixel Pitch 3.76 μm 4.81 μm
Pixel Density 7.08 MP/cm2 4.33 MP/cm2
Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO Setting 200 - 25,600 ISO 80 - 51,200 ISO
DXO Sensor Quality (score) 72 ..
DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.8 ..
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.3 ..
DXO Low Light (ISO) 889 ..
Screen Specs Olympus E-PL5 Zeiss ZX1
Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.74x
Viewfinder Resolution 6221k dots
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 4.3inch
LCD Resolution 460k dots 2765k dots
LCD Attachment Tilting screen Fixed screen
Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
Shooting Specs Olympus E-PL5 Zeiss ZX1
Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
Continuous Shooting 8 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/8000s
Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationno handshake reduction
Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
Storage Medium SDXC cards SSD cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single SSD
Connectivity Specs Olympus E-PL5 Zeiss ZX1
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.1
HDMI Port mini HDMI no HDMI
Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
Body Specs Olympus E-PL5 Zeiss ZX1
Battery Type Olympus BLS-5 Zeiss DD-PS1A
Battery Life (CIPA)360 shots per charge250 shots per charge
Body Dimensions 111 x 64 x 38 mm
(4.4 x 2.5 x 1.5 in)
142 x 93 x 46 mm
(5.6 x 3.7 x 1.8 in)
Camera Weight 325 g (11.5 oz) 800 g (28.2 oz)
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