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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-3
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic FS12, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The E-5 was introduced 22 months later than the FS12 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-5 scores vs the FS12 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Panasonic FS12

 E-5 FS12 
AnnouncedFebruary 2011April 2009More recent by 22 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-5

 FS12 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FS12

 E-5 FS12 
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 offers outside measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS12 has proportions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-5 versus Panasonic FS12 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-5 versus the FS12.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and FS12 is 58 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading specs. The graphic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and FS12.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact MP albeit different sensor measurements. The E-5 comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh simpler. The more modern E-5 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Portrait photography camera
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Street photography camera
71
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography factors
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
56
weather proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
has dual storage slots
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
28
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging info
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging info
64
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
has external mic jack
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus E-5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-02-03 2009-04-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 grams (1.76 lb) 129 grams (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Dual 1
Retail price $1,700 $228