Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic FS12

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic FS12, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 II was unveiled 7 years later than the FS12 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-M1 II grades versus the FS12 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-M1 II Gallery and Panasonic FS12 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 II features physical measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") along with a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Panasonic FS12 has specifications of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic FS12 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 II compared to the FS12.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 II and FS12 is 68 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by going over technical specs. The photograph here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 II and FS12.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 II using its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 II will deliver extra detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 II provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.