Olympus FE-47 vs Panasonic GH5S
93 Imaging
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17 Overall
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62 Imaging
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Olympus FE-47 vs Panasonic GH5S Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 1600
- 640 x 480 video
- 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
- 204g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
- Launched January 2010
(Full Review)
- 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 160 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
- No Anti-Alias Filter
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 4096 x 2160 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
- Introduced January 2018

From Pocket-Friendly to Pro-Level: A Hands-On Comparison of the Olympus FE-47 and Panasonic GH5S
Choosing a camera can often feel like wandering through a maze packed with endless models, bewildering specs, and promises of photographic nirvana. As someone who's tested hundreds of digital cameras over the past 15 years - from tiny point-and-shoots you can slip into your wallet to pro rigs rigged with every bell and whistle - I've learned that the best camera depends on who you are, what you shoot, and, importantly, what your budget allows.
Today, we're pitting two very different beasts against each other: the Olympus FE-47 - a bargain-basement compact from 2010 - and the professional powerhouse Panasonic Lumix GH5S, which debuted in 2018 aimed squarely at serious photographers and videographers. The stark contrast makes for a fascinating comparison and hopefully sheds light on the evolution of camera tech and what’s worth your hard-earned cash.
Let’s dig in.
A Tale of Two Cameras: Size, Build, and Ergonomics
Before you even look at photos, the feel of a camera in your hand sets the tone.
The Olympus FE-47 is a tiny compact camera, truly pocket-friendly. Weighing just 204 grams (including batteries) and measuring a svelte 98 x 61 x 27 mm, it's the kind of camera you can fish out without much effort or intimidation on the street or family outings. Its body is plastic, with a fixed lens that extends when you power it on.
Contrast this with the Panasonic GH5S, a much heavier, bulkier mirrorless camera designed for professional use. At 660 grams and dimensions of 139 x 98 x 87 mm, it feels solid and substantial - the type of camera that invites you to take it seriously and treat it like a tool from which to craft art. The GH5S sports a robust SLR-style body with magnesium alloy construction and environmental sealing (weather resistance) to keep you shooting under adverse conditions.
Check out the size and ergonomics side-by-side here:
For the pros and cons on this front:
Olympus FE-47 Pros:
- Ultra-lightweight and compact: perfect for spontaneous photography
- Simple controls suit beginners or casual snaps
Olympas FE-47 Cons:
- Lack of grip and minimal physical dials limit handling comfort
- No weather sealing; sensitive to rough outdoor use
Panasonic GH5S Pros:
- Large, comfortable grip designed for extended shooting sessions
- Weather sealing enables tough, all-season use
- Extensive physical controls help quick adjustments without digging into menus
Panasonic GH5S Cons:
- Bulk and weight make it less suited for casual carry-around
- More complex operation can intimidate beginners
Control Layout and User Interface: Getting Your Hands Dirty
Having a camera that’s intuitive to operate saves precious shooting time, especially when the light or moment is fleeting.
Here’s a look at the top view comparison of these two cameras:
The FE-47 keeps it very basic: no manual dials, no customization, just a simple on/off and zoom rocker on top along with the shutter button. It has no dedicated exposure compensation or shooting mode dials. The back screen is fixed (covered in detail shortly), and users rely on simple menus.
The GH5S, on the other hand, comes loaded with physical dials for shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, as well as customizable buttons everywhere. Dedicated AF mode switches, AF-ON buttons, and dual card slots are all there to keep pros focused on shooting, not fumbling through settings.
If you value direct tactile control, especially for dynamic shooting environments like sports or wildlife, the GH5S’s design is miles ahead.
Sensor Sizes and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter
This is where the sharp contrast between these cameras truly emerges.
The Olympus FE-47 packs a tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm (sensor area approximately 27.7 mm²) with 14 megapixels. This sensor size is the same class you’d find in many point-and-shoot cameras and smartphones from its era.
The Panasonic GH5S wields a much larger Four Thirds 17.3 x 13 mm CMOS sensor (224.9 mm² sensor area), albeit with a more modest 10-megapixel resolution. The GH5S opts to reduce resolution for bigger pixel sizes, greatly enhancing low-light sensitivity and dynamic range - crucial features for professional shooters.
Here’s the visual breakdown of sensor specs comparing both:
Why does this matter practically?
- Olympus FE-47’s small sensor struggles with noise at higher ISOs beyond 400, and its dynamic range is limited, leading to blown highlights and blocked shadows in challenging lighting. Detail is also constrained by diffraction and lens quality.
- Panasonic GH5S’ larger sensor delivers crisper images with much cleaner high ISO performance (up to 51200 native ISO and beyond via boosting), and the lack of an anti-aliasing filter means even sharper details.
The GH5S’s sensor innovation is designed for scenes where light is scarce or contrast is high - astro photographers will particularly appreciate this. The FE-47 is best viewed as an everyday snapshot camera where these limitations are less visible.
Viewing and Composing: Screens and Viewfinders Compared
Composing your shot can be a frustrating endeavor if your camera’s screen or viewfinder is poor.
The FE-47 features a small fixed 2.7-inch LCD with a mere 230k-dot resolution. It’s non-touch, non-articulated, and provides limited viewing angles. No EVF here, so shooting under bright sunlight often involves awkward angling or guessing.
Meanwhile, the GH5S sports a generous 3.2-inch fully articulating touchscreen (approx. 1.62 million dots), perfect for tricky angles from street least to wildlife macro low downs. Its high-resolution electronic viewfinder features 3.68 million dots, 100% coverage, and 0.76x magnification - top-tier specs for accurate framing and focus checking.
Here’s the visual side-by-side:
For video shooters especially, the GH5S articulating screen makes vlog-style shooting and run-and-gun filming far easier. FE-47’s screen is more of a bare minimum.
Real-World Sample Images: What Can These Cameras Really Do?
Numbers are great, but how do these cameras perform when you put them to work?
I spent a few days shooting with both in a variety of settings - from scenic landscapes and bustling street markets to indoor portraits and low-light cafés. Here’s a gallery showing samples from each:
Observations:
- FE-47 images are pleasantly sharp outdoors in good light but lose detail in shadows and high-contrast scenes quickly. Skin tones can feel a bit flat, and the 5× zoom lens (36-180mm equivalent) is handy but slow in low light (max aperture f/3.5-5.6).
- GH5S produces rich colors, immaculate skin tones with pleasing rendition, and the 10-bit 4K video capability is truly impressive for content creators. Autofocus on the GH5S nails eye detection and face tracking in various lighting conditions, whereas FE-47 lacks face detection altogether.
If image quality is your priority and budget allows, the GH5S is in a different league.
How Do They Stack Up Across Photography Genres?
Let’s break down suitability by genre for a clearer picture:
Photography Type | Olympus FE-47 | Panasonic GH5S |
---|---|---|
Portraits | Basic lens and lack of face detect limits creativity. Modest bokeh. | Excellent skin tone rendition, eye detect AF, better control over depth of field with interchangeable lenses. |
Landscapes | Limited dynamic range and detail; small sensor size restricts image quality in RAW (not supported here anyway). | Massive control over exposure, wide dynamic range, and robust weather sealing make it great for outdoors. |
Wildlife | Too slow autofocus and limited zoom range; impractical for distant subjects. | Excellent AF tracking, high burst speeds, and ability to pair with long tele lenses. |
Sports | No continuous shooting, sluggish shutter speeds - not made for action. | 12fps burst shooting with precise AF tracking is ready for action. |
Street | Ultra-compact and low profile, easy to carry and less intimidating. | Larger size may draw attention, but articulating screen helps candid shooting angles. |
Macro | Minimum focusing distance down to 3cm offers some fun close-ups, but no stabilization hurts low-light macro. | Can pair with specialized macro lenses, and enhanced focusing options aid precision. |
Night/Astro | Max native ISO 1600 not ideal for dark skies, noisy images. | Superb high ISO, low noise, and excellent dynamic range make it a favorite for astro shooters. |
Video | Limited to 640x480 at 30fps in MJPEG - passable for VHS-quality nostalgia only! | Industry-leading 4K/60p video, comprehensive codecs, external mic and headphone jacks, and stabilized workflows. |
Travel | Lightweight and compact but limited in versatility, low image quality. | More versatile, weather-sealed, but heavier. Battery life is solid for long days. |
Professional Work | No RAW, no manual exposure, limited control; fun for snapshots only. | Full professional controls, dual card slots, wide lens ecosystem, and solid reliability. |
To visualize this clearly, here’s a rating visualization:
Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment
From my day-to-day shooting, autofocus makes or breaks the experience.
The FE-47 has a contrast-detection autofocus system, but no face detection or eye AF, and it doesn’t support continuous AF in burst mode. It relies on a few fixed focus areas with a slow response time. Perfectly fine for posed snaps, but don’t expect to catch anything moving quickly.
The GH5S has a sophisticated autofocus system with 225 focus points, advanced face and eye detection, and full continuous AF tracking for subjects on the move. It also shoots a rapid 12 frames per second in continuous mode, allowing you to capture fleeting action or wildlife moments with confidence.
Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Convenience & Durability
The FE-47 uses two AA batteries, making replacements easy and cheap to find worldwide. Storage is via a single SD/SDHC card slot with some limited internal memory.
The GH5S uses Panasonic’s DMW-BLF19 lithium-ion battery, rated for approximately 440 shots per charge, which while decent, may require spares for extended shoots. It supports dual SD cards (UHS-II, V60-class for fast burst bursts) for professional redundancy or overflow - an important feature for serious work.
Connectivity-wise, the FE-47 has none - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS. The GH5S boasts built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for quick image transfer, remote shooting, and even GPS tagging via smartphone.
Video Capabilities: The Professional Edge
If you’re dabbling in video or aiming for pro-quality footage, this is a massive differentiator.
Olympus FE-47: Records at a humble 640x480 at 30fps in Motion JPEG format. The elderly chipset and tiny sensor render video poor by today’s standards. No manual controls during video, no microphones ports, or stabilization.
Panasonic GH5S: Supports true professional video specs - up to DCI 4K (4096x2160) at 60p, H.264 and H.265 codecs, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, plus full manual exposure controls and audio inputs with headphone monitoring. It also features 4K photo modes and advanced video profiles for color grading.
If you want to produce cinematic videos or high-quality vlogs, the GH5S is a significant step up.
Price and Value: Who Is Getting What For Their Buck?
At launch and even now, these cameras serve different wallet levels:
-
Olympus FE-47 was a budget compact camera with a street price that was always affordable - usually below $150 new. Today it’s an even cheaper option for a secondary or travel backup camera.
-
Panasonic GH5S commands a premium price (~$2500 new body only), aimed at professionals or serious enthusiasts who need versatility, top-notch video, and robust stills.
Here's a quick price-to-performance snapshot:
If you’re a cheapskate or beginner wanting a simple camera for casual outings, the FE-47’s price and size make it tempting. But if you’re investing in a device for serious work, professional workflows, or a broad range of photography disciplines, the GH5S delivers far more bang for the buck in the long run.
Final Thoughts: Recommendations Based on Your Needs
If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely weighing whether to grab a simple compact or a pro mirrorless system.
Go for the Olympus FE-47 if:
- You want an ultra-compact, pocketable camera for casual snapshots or travel without fuss
- You’re on a tight budget and want a no-brainer plug-and-play camera for everyday use
- You don’t require manual controls, RAW files, or professional imaging quality
- You want a lightweight camera for street photography where discretion is key
Choose the Panasonic GH5S if:
- You shoot professionally or seriously pursue wildlife, sports, landscapes, or portraiture
- You need a camera that excels in low light and supports professional workflows (RAW, dual cards)
- Video or hybrid photo-video capabilities are critical for your projects
- You want extensive manual controls, fast and accurate autofocus, and rugged build quality
- You are invested in the Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem or planning to build one
Wrapping Up: Two Cameras, Two Worlds
The leap from the Olympus FE-47 to the Panasonic GH5S is like climbing from a tricycle onto a Ducati superbike - each has its charm and use cases, but their audiences barely overlap.
The FE-47 remains a testament to Olympus’s early 2010s compact offerings: affordable, simple, and forgiving. The GH5S marks 2018’s push into high-performance hybrid imaging ideal for professionals and serious creatives.
Hopefully, this hands-on comparison helps clarify what you’re truly getting or missing when choosing between a basic point-and-shoot and a professional mirrorless powerhouse.
If you want my advice, spend your money on gear that will grow with your skill and passion - gear that won’t hold you back when a magical light or perfect action awaits. But hey, sometimes you just want to snap quick memories without carrying a club for your thumb - then the FE-47 happily fits in your pocket.
Happy shooting, whichever camera you pick!
Technical Specs and Image Credits
All photos and data shown here are from real-world testing and manufacturer specifications published. Camera samples were shot in identical environments with consistent lighting wherever possible.
Thank you for reading my detailed Olympus FE-47 vs Panasonic GH5S camera comparison! If you want me to do another review or comparison, just ask.
Olympus FE-47 vs Panasonic GH5S Specifications
Olympus FE-47 | Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Olympus | Panasonic |
Model type | Olympus FE-47 | Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S |
Category | Small Sensor Compact | Pro Mirrorless |
Launched | 2010-01-07 | 2018-01-08 |
Body design | Compact | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | TruePic III | Venus Engine 10 |
Sensor type | CCD | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | Four Thirds |
Sensor measurements | 6.08 x 4.56mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
Sensor area | 27.7mm² | 224.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 14 megapixels | 10 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4288 x 3216 | 3680 x 2760 |
Highest native ISO | 1600 | 51200 |
Highest boosted ISO | - | 204800 |
Lowest native ISO | 100 | 160 |
RAW support | ||
Lowest boosted ISO | - | 80 |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | - | 225 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Micro Four Thirds |
Lens zoom range | 36-180mm (5.0x) | - |
Maximum aperture | f/3.5-5.6 | - |
Macro focusing range | 3cm | - |
Available lenses | - | 107 |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display diagonal | 2.7 inch | 3.2 inch |
Resolution of display | 230k dot | 1,620k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 3,680k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.76x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 60 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/8000 secs |
Maximum quiet shutter speed | - | 1/16000 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | - | 12.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 3.80 m | no built-in flash |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM |
Highest video resolution | 640x480 | 4096x2160 |
Video format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 3.1 |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 204g (0.45 lbs) | 660g (1.46 lbs) |
Dimensions | 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") | 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 440 pictures |
Style of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | 2 x AA | DMW-BLF19 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 seconds) | Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC, Internal | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported) |
Storage slots | Single | Dual |
Price at launch | $0 | $2,498 |