• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 720.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 4/3 226.2mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600

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Differences

Panasonic ZS50 advantages over Olympus E-M10 III

  • Less expensive
    $279* vs $799
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Slower slow-motion
    240 fps vs 120 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Thinner
    34 mm vs 49 mm
    Thinner
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 8.6 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Olympus E-M10 III advantages over Panasonic ZS50

  • Larger sensor
    4/3 vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.78 vs 1.54 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.62x vs 0.46x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    16.1 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 6 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

  • Superbly-built, comfortable and compact body; Pairs beautifully with pancake kit lens; Excellent image quality; Excellent performance in most respects; Great single-shot autofocus; Really nice viewfinder and touch-screen display; Friendlier user interface courts amateurs.

  • Some controls are a bit small and tightly-packed; Hand grips are still a bit modestly-sized for larger lenses; Continuous and video autofocus just isn't up to snuff; New user interface can feel limiting to advanced photographers; Underwhelming battery life.

  • Read our Olympus E-M10 III Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic ZS40

Panasonic ZS50
Panasonic ZS40
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $380
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in GPS
  • More pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS40

Olympus E-M10 III
Panasonic ZS40
  • $549
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $380
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS40

Compared to Panasonic ZS35

Panasonic ZS50
Panasonic ZS35
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $300
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • More pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic ZS35

Olympus E-M10 III
Panasonic ZS35
  • $549
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $300
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Thinner

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic ZS35

Compared to Canon SX700 HS

Panasonic ZS50
Canon SX700 HS
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $329
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels
  • Faster shutter

Compare Panasonic ZS50 vs Canon SX700 HS

Olympus E-M10 III
Canon SX700 HS
  • $549
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $329
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • NFC

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Canon SX700 HS

Compared to Olympus E-M10 II

Panasonic ZS50
Olympus E-M10 II
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion
  • $349
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS50 vs Olympus E-M10 II

Olympus E-M10 III
Olympus E-M10 II
  • $549
  • 4/3
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $349
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-M10 II

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Panasonic ZS50
Panasonic GX85
  • $279
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • NFC
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic ZS50 vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M10 III
Panasonic GX85
  • $549
  • 4/3
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Higher max flash sync
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic GX85

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