Olympus FE-45 vs Panasonic GF5

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Olympus FE-45 versus Panasonic GF5, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the FE-45 (10MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is relatively similar but the FE-45 (1/2.3") and GF5 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The FE-45 was brought out 4 years prior to the GF5 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus FE-45 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the FE-45 matches up against the GF5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus FE-45 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5. The entire galleries are available at Olympus FE-45 Gallery and Panasonic GF5 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus FE-45 comes with outer dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 23mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Panasonic GF5 has specifications of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus FE-45 versus Panasonic GF5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the FE-45 vs the GF5.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FE-45 and GF5 is 95 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-45 and GF5.

As you can see, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FE-45 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic GF5 will offer extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged FE-45 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.