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Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F

Portability
89
Imaging
60
Features
65
Overall
62
Canon EOS M front
 
Olympus PEN-F front
Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67

Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced July 2012
Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Introduced January 2016
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Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Canon M and Olympus PEN-F, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the M (18MP) and the PEN-F (20MP) is relatively similar but the M (APS-C) and PEN-F (Four Thirds) posses different sensor sizing.

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The M was released 4 years before the PEN-F and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the M grades versus the PEN-F when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon M over the Olympus PEN-F

 M PEN-F 
Screen resolution1040k1037kClearer screen (+3k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Canon M

 PEN-F M 
IntroducedJanuary 2016July 2012Fresher by 42 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Canon M and Olympus PEN-F

 M PEN-F 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Canon M has outside dimensions of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Olympus PEN-F has specifications of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs).

Examine the Canon M and Olympus PEN-F in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the M and the PEN-F.

Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M and PEN-F is 89 and 84 respectively.

Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by reviewing technical specs. The photograph here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the M and PEN-F.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The M because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will offer more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older M is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography information
Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography information
76
you can focus manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW files
75
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon M Street photography details
Olympus PEN-F Street photography details
72
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
boasts focus via touch
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
84
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
includes focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Canon M as a Sports photography camera
Olympus PEN-F as a Sports photography camera
55
good resolution (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (230 CIPA)
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
not so great battery pack (330 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon M
Travel photography with Olympus PEN-F
63
boasts focus via touch
good resolution (18 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery life (230 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
75
includes focus by touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon M
Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
66
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (18MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (230 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
76
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (330 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M Vlogging information
Olympus PEN-F Vlogging information
37
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic jack
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Canon M vs Olympus PEN-F Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Olympus PEN-F
 Canon EOS MOlympus PEN-F
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Olympus
Model Canon EOS M Olympus PEN-F
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-07-23 2016-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 31 81
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF-M Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 23 107
Crop factor 1.6 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Clear View II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.62x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 298 gr (0.66 pounds) 427 gr (0.94 pounds)
Physical dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 65 74
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 23.1
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 12.4
DXO Low light score 827 894
Other
Battery life 230 shots 330 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E12 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $510 $1,000