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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Replaced the Olympus E-3
Panasonic FH8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 123g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 Overview

In this write-up, we will be looking at the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH8, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and FH8 (16MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and FH8 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The E-5 was manufactured 11 months before the FH8 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FH8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-5 matches up versus the FH8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic FH8

 E-5 FH8 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH8 over the Olympus E-5

 FH8 E-5 
LaunchedJanuary 2012February 2011Fresher by 11 months

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH8

 E-5 FH8 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 has outer dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Panasonic FH8 has dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 123 grams (0.27 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH8 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the E-5 against the FH8.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and FH8 is 58 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing merely by looking at specifications. The visual below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and FH8.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-5 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FH8 will give extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Street photography camera
71
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (123 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Sports photography camera
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH8 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment sealing
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
69
lighter than average in class (123g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FH8 Landscape photography features
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse mode
43
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging features
Panasonic FH8 Vlogging features
64
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
includes microphone support
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
33
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
lighter than average in class (123g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FH8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FH8
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH8
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-02-03 2012-01-09
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 23
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 4cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lbs) 123g (0.27 lbs)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 images 260 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Two Single
Cost at launch $1,700 $149