Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PM1

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PM1, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both created by Olympus. The image resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the E-PM1 (12MP) is relatively close but the FE-5010 (1/2.3") and E-PM1 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The FE-5010 was announced 3 years prior to the E-PM1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus FE-5010 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the FE-5010 scores versus the E-PM1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus FE-5010 & Olympus PEN E-PM1. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-5010 Gallery & Olympus E-PM1 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-5010 provides physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Olympus E-PM1 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Compare the Olympus FE-5010 vs Olympus E-PM1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the FE-5010 against the E-PM1.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FE-5010 and E-PM1 is 96 and 89 respectively.

Typically, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching a spec sheet. The picture underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-5010 and E-PM1.

As you can see, both of the cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit not the same sensor sizes. The FE-5010 has got the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field trickier. The more aged FE-5010 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.