Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5

In this article, we are reviewing the Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and GF5 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 II was announced 4 years after the GF5 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the E-M1 II scores versus the GF5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-M1 II Gallery and Panasonic GF5 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 II provides external dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") and a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) and the Panasonic GF5 has dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 II versus the GF5.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 II and GF5 is 68 and 89 respectively.

More often than not, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizes simply by seeing a spec sheet. The image below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 II and GF5.

As you can see, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M1 II to produce greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos far more aggressively. The newer E-M1 II is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.