Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH1

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic FH1, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the FH1 (12MP) is relatively close but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and FH1 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-5 was announced 14 months after the FH1 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-5 grades vs the FH1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-5 Gallery and Panasonic FH1 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 comes with outer measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Panasonic FH1 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic FH1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-5 against the FH1.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and FH1 is 58 and 95 respectively.

Often, it is very tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The image below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and FH1.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have the same MP albeit different sensor sizes. The E-5 has the bigger sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult. The fresher E-5 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.