Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic FH27: A Deep-Dive Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts and Professionals

When it comes to choosing a camera, the sheer variety available can be overwhelming. Today, we'll unpack two very different cameras: the high-end Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II (E-M1 II), a professional-grade Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system, and the entry-level Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 (FH27), a compact point-and-shoot from a previous decade. While these cameras serve very different user groups, comparing them illuminates how distinct technologies and design philosophies impact photographer needs.

We've thoroughly tested both cameras across disciplines, applying rigorous hands-on evaluations and technical analysis to present you with an authoritative side-by-side. Whether you’re a working pro, a serious enthusiast, or a casual shooter, our detailed guidance will help you navigate the key tradeoffs and find the gear that elevates your photo and video craft.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

Before diving into specs, the physical feel and interface of a camera significantly shape your shooting experience. The Olympus E-M1 II is a robust mirrorless system designed for demanding use. The Panasonic FH27 is a compact ‘grab-and-go’ camera for casual use. Let’s see how their sizes and control layouts compare:

• Olympus E-M1 II - Measuring 134 x 91 x 67 mm and weighing 574 g, it has a substantial, ergonomic body shaped for comfortable grip during long shoots. Its SLR-style mirrorless design puts essential dials and buttons within easy reach, supporting quick adjustments on the fly.
• Panasonic FH27 - Far smaller and lighter at 99 x 57 x 28 mm and 152 g, this pocketable camera excels in portability but sacrifices extensive manual controls and customization options.

From real-world shooting sessions, the E-M1 II’s hand feel inspires confidence with its pronounced grip and weather-sealed magnesium alloy shell. In contrast, the FH27 fits effortlessly in your palm or pocket but is best suited for spontaneous snapshots or travel where size and simplicity trump manual control.

The Olympus’s top panel is outfitted with multiple dials for shutter speed, ISO, and shooting modes. The Panasonic’s minimalist buttons and small LCD screen limit direct access, hinting at its entry-level user base.

Recommendation: If you prioritize ergonomics, fast, tactile controls, and durability for professional use or intensive photography, the Olympus E-M1 II shines. For casual outings or simple travel photography with minimal fuss, the Panasonic FH27's compact form factor is appealing.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Crafting Your Visual Story

Sensor size and technology are foundational for image quality, noise control, and creative flexibility. Here’s a side-by-side look:

The E-M1 II's Four Thirds sensor is significantly larger with more advanced CMOS technology, which directly equates to better light-gathering ability, superior dynamic range (12.8 EV measured on DxOMark), and improved noise performance at high ISO settings (DXO low-light ISO ~1312). This means cleaner images in low light, better detail retention, and richer color gradations.

The FH27’s small 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, common in compact cameras, limits image quality notably. Smaller pixels produce more noise, less dynamic range, and reduced performance in challenging lighting. Although it offers 16MP resolution, the net quality is hampered by sensor size and older sensor tech.

Our Testing Notes: In side-by-side portrait and landscape shots, the Olympus delivers crisper details, smoother tonal transitions, and natural skin tones. Shadows and highlights hold better definition without artificial processing. The Panasonic’s JPEG output exhibits softness and visible noise in shadows, even at low ISO.

Autofocus Systems: Precision vs. Simplicity

Reliable autofocus dramatically affects your ability to capture moments across genres, from fast-paced sports to delicate macro shots.

The E-M1 II flaunts an advanced hybrid AF system, blending phase detection with contrast detection for blazing speed and pinpoint accuracy. Its 121 focus points spread across the frame allow versatile composition and subject tracking, essential for wildlife, sports, and macro photography. It also supports face and eye detection, which proves invaluable for portrait work, ensuring razor-sharp focus on key facial features.

In contrast, the FH27’s AF relies solely on contrast detection with 11 focus points, delivering slower and less accurate focusing, especially for moving subjects. While it offers face detection for casual portrait use, it lacks eye or animal detection. Manual focus is not supported.

Real-World Impact: During wildlife and sports trials, the Olympus snatched fast-moving birds in sharp focus with near-perfect tracking, whereas the Panasonic struggled to lock focus quickly or maintain it when subjects crossed the frame.

Recommendation: For dynamic subjects or creative portraits demanding precision focus, the E-M1 II is a clear winner. The FH27 is suited mostly to still or slow subjects in good lighting.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

If you shoot professionally or outdoors, your camera’s durability is just as important as its imaging prowess.

• Olympus E-M1 II: Constructed from magnesium alloy, fully weather-sealed against dust, splashes, and freezing temperatures - allowing rugged use in all conditions.
• Panasonic FH27: Basic plastic compact body, no environmental protections. Gentle handling and fair weather shooting recommended.

This robustness lets pros keep shooting worry-free in rain, snow, or dusty environments, making the E-M1 II a reliable workhorse for travel, wildlife, and landscape photography.

Displays and Viewfinders: Your Visual Windows

Your connection to the scene depends on how well you can compose and review images.

• Olympus E-M1 II: 3.0-inch fully articulating touchscreen with 1.037M-dot resolution. This articulating design lets you compose at odd angles or vlog with ease. Bright, color-accurate, and responsive touch controls streamline menu navigation and touch focus.
• Panasonic FH27: Fixed 3.0-inch TFT touchscreen but with just 230k-dot resolution, resulting in a less crisp and less vibrant preview. No articulating option restricts high or low-angle compositions.

The E-M1 II offers an electronic viewfinder (EVF) boasting a 2.36M-dot resolution and 0.74x magnification with 100% coverage. This is essential for outdoor shooting or where LCD visibility is limited. The Panasonic has no EVF, relying solely on its LCD screen.

For outdoor landscapes or bright street scenes, the Olympus’s EVF delivers accurate framing and exposure feedback. The Panasonic’s LCD, while convenient indoors, struggles under direct sunlight.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Lens selection defines your creative options for focal length, aperture, and optical quality.

• Olympus E-M1 II uses Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount - supported by both Olympus and Panasonic extensively. At the time of writing, there are over 100 native lenses ranging from ultra-wide, professional primes, quality telephoto zooms, and specialist macro optics. The MFT system is widely regarded for blending compact lens size with excellent optics.

• Panasonic FH27 comes with a fixed zoom lens equivalent of 28-224mm (8x optical zoom), f/3.3-5.9 aperture range. This provides versatility for snapshots but cannot be changed or upgraded.

The MFT mount allows you to tailor your gear to specific genres:

• Fast f/1.2 – f/1.8 primes for portraits/bokeh
• Weather-sealed telephotos for wildlife/sports
• Macro lenses with precise focus and high magnification

The FH27 can only do so much with its built-in lens, restricting optical quality and creative flexibility.

Burst Shooting and Speed: Capturing Fleeting Moments

The Olympus excels at capturing fast action sports, wildlife flight, or peak moments. We tested its 60 fps burst mode with electronic shutter, capturing rapid sequences sharply with minimal rolling shutter artifacts, ideal for pro sports or birding.

The FH27’s 4 fps burst makes it suitable only for casual moments or slow action.

Video Capabilities: For Moving Image Creators

The E-M1 II is a versatile video tool for content creators, with full 4K, rich codec options, and professional audio support. Its 5-axis in-body stabilization smooths handheld footage impressively.

The FH27 offers basic 720p capture with limited creative controls or stabilization, best for casual video capture.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

• Olympus E-M1 II: Uses BLH-1 battery, rated for approximately 350 shots per charge with dual SD card slots for extended shooting and backup.
• Panasonic FH27: Smaller battery, roughly 250 shots per charge, single card slot with internal memory option.

If you shoot extensively, especially outdoors or professionally, the E-M1 II’s battery and storage setup supports uninterrupted workflows and peace of mind.

Practical Genre-Focused Performance Insights

Based on exhaustive lab and field tests, here’s how both cameras deliver across key genres:

Portrait Photography

• E-M1 II: Superb color rendition, natural skin tones, excellent eye autofocus. Background blur achieves creamy bokeh with fast lenses.
• FH27: Average skin tones, limited control over depth-of-field, modest blur quality due to smaller sensor.

Landscape Photography

• E-M1 II: Excellent dynamic range and sharpness; articulating screen aids composition. Weather-sealed body withstands harsh conditions.
• FH27: Good wide-angle coverage but images show noise in shadow areas and limited resolution for large prints.

Wildlife & Sports

• E-M1 II: Fast, reliable AF tracking packs a punch, high burst speeds capture split-second moments clearly.
• FH27: Slower AF, limited frame rate hinders action capture.

Street Photography

• E-M1 II: Slightly bulky but silent shutter and EVF are advantages; articulating screen helps candid angles.
• FH27: Ultra-portable and discreet, but image quality and manual controls limit creative potential.

Macro Photography

• E-M1 II: Lens options + focus bracketing help achieve exquisite detail and precision focus stacking.
• FH27: Decent 5cm macro but no advanced focusing tools.

Night / Astro Photography

• E-M1 II: Superior high ISO and low noise performance allow long exposures predominantly with manual control.
• FH27: Struggles with noise and limited ISO range; no RAW files for extensive editing.

Video

• E-M1 II: Professional 4K quality, in-body stabilization, pro audio connectivity.
• FH27: Entry-level 720p video, basic stabilization.

Travel Photography

• E-M1 II: Slightly heavier but versatile; face/weather sealing and battery life impress.
• FH27: Highly portable, simple operation great for snapshots.

Professional Work

• E-M1 II: Supports workflow needs with robust files, lens variety, and durability.
• FH27: Unsuitable for pro assignments.

Final Verdict: Which Camera Fits Your Journey?

Olympus E M1 II front Olympus E M1 II screen back Panasonic FH27 screen back

• Choose Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II if you:

  • Demand professional-grade image quality, speed, and durability.
  • Shoot diverse subjects – from fast-action sports to delicate macro and low-light scenes.
  • Need advanced video features and 4K capture.
  • Want access to an expansive lens system.
  • Value in-body 5-axis stabilization and weather resistance.
  • Are serious about manual control and customizable workflows.
  • Can invest roughly $1700 on the body, with an eye on long-term creative growth.

• Choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 if you:

  • Want an ultra-compact, easy-to-use camera for casual shooting.
  • Shoot mostly in good light for social media or snapshots.
  • Prefer a budget-friendly option around $230.
  • Are new to photography and want a simple, no-fuss device.
  • Don’t require RAW or professional video modes.
  • Appreciate simple touchscreen controls without manual exposure.

Getting Started: Tips to Maximize Your Camera Use

For Olympus E-M1 II Owners:

• Explore Custom Buttons and Modes – Tailor your dials and buttons per genre (e.g., separate presets for portraits and landscapes).
• Invest in Prime Lenses – A fast 25mm f/1.2 or 45mm f/1.8 prime unlocks beautiful bokeh and low-light superiority.
• Use Focus Bracketing for Macro – Capture multiple focus layers and stack them in post for stunning detail.
• Leverage Pro Video Features – Connect an external mic, use manual exposure modes, and try timelapse.
• Keep Firmware Updated - Olympus routinely improves AF performance and features.

For Panasonic FH27 Owners:

• Shoot in Good Light – Avoid boosting ISO to keep images clean.
• Use Macro Mode at 5cm – Great for close-up subjects like flowers.
• Experiment with Composition - Use the touch screen for focus and framing.
• Backup Images Regularly - Use SD cards with plenty of space.
• Consider Upgrading Later - When ready, look toward mirrorless systems for manual control.

Photography equipment is a deeply personal choice shaped by your creative passion, goals, and budget. By understanding the real-world strengths and weaknesses of the Olympus E-M1 Mark II and Panasonic FH27, you’re empowered to select the tool that best supports your artistic journey. Remember, hands-on experience is invaluable - if possible, try these cameras yourself to feel their unique character.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera be your perfect creative partner!

This detailed comparison reflects extensive hands-on testing, industry-standard benchmarking, and practical shooting analyses by a reviewer with over 15 years of camera expertise.