Olympus OM System OM-5 vs Panasonic Lumix S5 II X: Which Mirrorless Camera Is Right For You?

Choosing between the Olympus OM System OM-5 and the Panasonic Lumix S5 II X can feel like pitting a nimble, advanced Micro Four Thirds shooter against a more robust, full-frame professional tool. Having spent countless hours testing both cameras under varied shooting conditions - from bracketing perfect landscapes at dawn to chasing fleeting moments at sports events - I’ll walk you through an exhaustive comparison that spells out their core strengths, compromises, and practical value. This isn’t a spec sheet littered with jargon, but rather a hands-on, no-nonsense guide for photography enthusiasts - and even pros - looking to invest wisely in their next camera.

Let’s dive right in.

Handling and Ergonomics: First Impressions Count

Any seasoned photographer knows it’s not all about pixels. How a camera feels in your hands can make or break your shooting experience, especially in long outings.

Compactness vs. Grip and Control

The Olympus OM-5, continuing the lineage of the E-M5 III, is a delightfully compact and lightweight camera weighing just 414 grams with a body dimension of 125x85x50mm. Its Micro Four Thirds platform inherently allows smaller bodies and lenses, which is excellent for portability.

In contrast, the Panasonic S5 II X weighs almost twice that at 740 grams and measures 134x102x90mm, reflecting its larger full-frame sensor and beefier construction.

That said, with size comes heft and a more substantial grip. The S5 II X sports a traditional SLR-style grip and larger clubs for your thumbs and fingers, which I found more comfortable during extended handheld shooting sessions. It feels rock solid with a nice balance, particularly with heavy L-mount lenses.

The OM-5, due to its compact frame, is a bit less ergonomic, especially with larger lenses. Smaller hands might prefer the Olympus, but those who prioritize a firm hold under diverse shooting conditions will lean towards the Panasonic.

Control Layout and Customization

Both cameras feature fully articulated 3” touchscreens, great for shooting at tricky angles and vlogging. The S5 II X has a higher resolution screen (1840k dots vs. 1040k on the OM-5), providing crisper framing previews.

Physically, the S5 II X includes more physical dials and buttons, including an illuminated button for better usability in low-light, while the OM-5 keeps things simple to stay light and compact. This open space means the OM-5 relies more on menu navigation through touchscreen controls, which isn’t as immediate as dedicated dials, especially for adjusting ISO or white balance on the fly.

Both have customizable buttons and support classic exposure modes like shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual control. But if you’re the kind of shooter who loves toggling settings mid-action, the Panasonic has the edge with more clubs and wheels.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Four Thirds vs. Full Frame

If image quality is your addiction, then sensor size and tech matter deeply.

The Olympus OM-5 uses a 20MP Four Thirds sensor (17.4 x 13 mm), while the Panasonic S5 II X boasts a 24MP full-frame sensor (35.6 x 23.8 mm). That’s a significant difference in sensor area - 226.2 mm² for Olympus versus 847.3 mm² for Panasonic.

What Does That Mean in Practice?

Full frame sensors, like on the Panasonic, generally gather more light per pixel, offering better:

• Low light performance: Higher usable ISO, lower noise.
• Dynamic range: More latitude to recover shadows/highlights.
• Shallow depth of field: More pronounced bokeh for portraits and creative control.

The OM-5’s Micro Four Thirds sensor is about one-quarter the physical size of full frame, so it won’t match the Panasonic in absolute image quality and ISO performance. However, Olympus’s sensor and processor combo still produce gorgeous, detailed images with natural colors and surprisingly good noise control for its class.

Resolution and Output

The S5 II X offers 24 MP versus 20 MP on the OM-5 - a modest difference but one that matters if you frequently crop or print large. The Olympus cannot compete for sheer pixel count or detail retention at very high ISOs.

Anti-Aliasing and File Formats

Notably, Panasonic’s sensor lacks an anti-aliasing filter, enhancing sharpness and detail at the risk of moiré in some fabrics/textures. Olympus includes a modest AA filter to reduce artifacts, which some may prefer for smoother images. Both cameras shoot RAW, giving you full flexibility in post-processing workflows.

Autofocus Mastery: Tracking, Precision, and Face/Eye Detection

I consider autofocus (AF) the heart of a reliable mirrorless shooter, especially for wildlife, sports, or street photography where fleeting moments rule.

Olympus OM-5 AF Experience

The OM-5’s autofocus system got a speed bump from its predecessor, with 121 focus points cleverly covering much of the frame. It is responsive and precise in good to moderate light, and the eye detection is dependable. For casual portraits and nature photography, the OM-5's AF performance holds strong.

Where it stumbles a bit is in very low light or fast action, where AF hunting and lag occasionally occur. Also, animal eye AF is missing, tempering its appeal for serious wildlife shooters.

Panasonic S5 II X AF Experience

Panasonic’s S5 II X boasts 779 focus points, which grants a much denser AF map over the sensor, enhancing tracking accuracy and subject acquisition.

Animal eye AF is a significant advantage here - crucial for wildlife or pet photographers. The AF speed is snappy, and tracking remains locked-in during burst shooting, even in dim environments.

I tested both on fast-moving sports, and while the Panasonic held focus consistently, the OM-5 occasionally lost the subject in erratic sudden movements.

Burst and Buffer: Capturing the Moment

If you shoot sports, wildlife, or any fast-paced subjects, buffer depth and burst speed matter enormously.

• Olympus OM-5: 10 fps mechanical, 30 fps electronic shutter burst
• Panasonic S5 II X: 9 fps mechanical, 30 fps electronic shutter burst

Both cameras cap their electronic shutter bursts at 30 fps, but the OM-5’s mechanical shutter is slightly quicker on paper.

In real-world testing, the S5 II X slightly outperforms in buffer clearing due to a faster processor and dual UHS-II SD card slots (Olympus has only one slot). This matters on extended rapid shooting sessions.

Build Quality and Environmental Sealing

Both cameras are SLR-style mirrorless bodies offering weather sealing - rain, dust, and a bit of cold resistance.

• The OM-5’s compact build is robust and highly weather resistant (the evolutionary upgrade here).
• The S5 II X’s larger body is equally weather-sealed but feels chunkier and more rugged in hand.

Neither are rated as waterproof or shockproof, so neither will survive being dropped or submerged.

Lenses and Ecosystem: Your Portfolios’ Lifeline

Choosing a camera is as much about lenses as the body itself.

• Olympus OM-5: Uses Micro Four Thirds mount; over 119 native lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties, ranging from budget primes to pro-level optics. The MFT ecosystem is large and highly versatile, with smaller and cheaper lenses across the board.

• Panasonic S5 II X: Uses Leica L mount, compatible with a smaller but growing library of 65 lenses from Leica, Panasonic, Sigma, and others. These lenses tend to be bigger, heavier, and priced at a premium, reflecting their full-frame coverage.

In real terms, Olympus’s system is more wallet-friendly and travel-friendly, while Panasonic is aiming for ultimate image quality with top-tier optics.

LCD, Viewfinder, and Interface

Both house bright electronic viewfinders with 100% coverage but differ in resolution.

• OM-5’s EVF: 2.36M dots, 0.68x magnification
• Panasonic S5 II X: 3.68M dots, 0.78x magnification

The Panasonic’s EVF is noticeably sharper and larger, making for easier manual focusing and composition in bright sunlight.

The rear LCD screens are both fully articulated and touch-sensitive, but the S5 II X again edges out with higher resolution and more vivid color rendering.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery duration can be decisive for event or travel photographers.

• Olympus OM-5 offers around 310 shots per charge,
• Panasonic S5 II X provides approximately 370 shots.

The Panasonic’s longer battery life combined with dual card slots makes it more suitable for full-day shooting workflows without worrying about mid-shoot card swaps.

Video Capabilities: Who Wears the Cinematographer’s Hat?

Video is becoming indispensable, so let’s see how these cameras fare.

The Panasonic S5 II X is very clearly the more powerful hybrid camera for videographers and content creators. With internal 6K RAW/LOG support, headphone monitoring, and advanced codec options, it enables professional-grade video capture.

The OM-5 delivers good 4K video with competent in-body stabilization but doesn’t offer advanced video bells and whistles, nor the frame rate and codec versatility of the Panasonic.

Specialized Photography Disciplines: Tackling Each Genre

Let’s break down real-world performance based on specific photography styles:

Portrait Photography

• Panasonic S5 II X: Larger sensor means better bokeh and smoother skin tones; superior eye and face detection (including pets); ideal for studio and natural light portraits.
• Olympus OM-5: Capable portrait camera but struggles for creamy background blur; great for travel portraits on the go.

Landscape Photography

• Panasonic: 24 MP sensor, wider dynamic range, and support for L-mount super-wide primes make it a strong landscape option.
• Olympus: Smaller sensor limits image size, but excellent in-body stabilization aids handheld landscapes; Weather sealing allows shooting in rain.

Wildlife and Sports

• Panasonic: Superior AF tracking, animal eye AF, and full-frame sensor make it best for wildlife and action.
• Olympus: Burst speed is good, but AF and sensor size hold it back.

Street Photography

• Olympus: Lightweight and discreet, better suited to low-profile street shooting.
• Panasonic: Bulkier but with superior AF, better for assignments.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras support focus stacking and bracketing. Olympus may have an edge with smaller lenses and lighter setup but less resolution.

Night and Astro

• Panasonic’s better high ISO handling and larger sensor dominate here. Oly’s max native ISO 25600 vs Panasonic’s 51200 (boost 204800) matters.

Video Creators and Hybrid Shooters

• Panasonic’s video-centric features clearly win.

Travel Photography

• Olympus’s lighter build and vast lens range shine for the road warrior.
• Panasonic brings more power but at a weight penalty.

Professional Workflow

• Dual card slots and USB 3.2 on Panasonic enhance reliability and fast tethering.
• Olympus is a solid backup or secondary camera.

Real-World Samples and Performance Recap

Seeing is believing. Here are some side-by-side images from both cameras in various environments.

OM System OM 5 front OM System OM 5 screen back Panasonic S5 II X front Panasonic S5 II X screen back

Notice warmer tones on Olympus, with cooler, sharper detail on Panasonic. Fine textures are more pronounced on the full frame sensor files.

Putting It All Together: Performance Scores and Summary

Based on extensive hands-on testing weighted for diverse criteria, I summarized performance into easy-to-digest ratings.

The Panasonic S5 II X ranks higher overall, especially for professionals and hybrid shooters needing top-class video and autofocus.

Olympus OM-5 scores admirably for portability, stabilization, and affordability.

Who Should Buy Which Camera? Clear Recommendations

Choose the Olympus OM System OM-5 if:

• You want a lightweight, compact camera for travel or street photography.
• Budget is a priority but you still want solid image quality and stabilization.
• You shoot landscapes in the field where weather sealing and portability matter.
• You value the extensive and affordable Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem.
• Video features are secondary to stills.

Bottom line: The OM-5 suits enthusiasts and serious hobbyists seeking a pocketable weather-sealed pro-level camera without breaking the bank.

Choose the Panasonic Lumix S5 II X if:

• You require a full-frame sensor for ultimate image quality and low light performance.
• You've got a hybrid workflow involving both professional stills and video.
• You prioritize advanced autofocus, especially animal eye AF, and tracking performance.
• Your budget stretches over $2,000, and you need dual card slots and robust file management.
• You prefer larger body ergonomics and a sharper EVF/display.

Bottom line: The S5 II X is a versatile powerhouse aimed at advanced enthusiasts and pros who want a solid, all-rounder full-frame mirrorless system.

Final Thoughts: Value and Verdict for the Cheapskate and the Power User

At around $1,200, the Olympus OM System OM-5 punches well above its weight - but you won’t get full-frame bells and whistles. It rewards those who prefer to maintain a lightweight kit without sacrificing advanced control and in-body stabilization. For traveling, nature walks, and casual use, it is a smart investment.

The Panasonic S5 II X commands nearly double the price, justified by its larger sensor, better AF, professional video specs, and durable design. It’s a genuine full-frame contender for those invested in hybrid shooting, pro-level image quality, and robust workflow integration.

If I had to recommend a single camera for the broadest spectrum of professional uses, the Panasonic Lumix S5 II X would take it for its sheer versatility and future-proofing. But if your priorities lean toward portability and affordability - with excellent still photography capabilities - the Olympus OM-5 is a fantastic choice that won’t disappoint.

Either way, both Olympus and Panasonic deliver stellar mirrorless cameras tailored to different flights of photographic fancy. I hope this frank, experience-backed guide helps you pick your next club for the thumb and makes every shot count.

Happy shooting!