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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
68
Imaging
60
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M1
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 III
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Panasonic GF5

 E-M1 II GF5 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016April 2012More modern by 55 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k920kCrisper display (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 GF5 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic GF5

 E-M1 II GF5 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

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

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography information
76
manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography info
Panasonic GF5 Street photography info
78
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
environment proof
lighter than competition (574 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch focus
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography highlights
75
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (60.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery power (350 shots)
41
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography info
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography info
72
lighter than competition (574 grams)
environment proof
offers focus by touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery power (350 shots)
61
features touch focus
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Landscape photography camera
76
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
no anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
bad battery power (350 shots)
59
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Vlogging features
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging features
79
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes microphone support
lighter than competition (574g)
32
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Category Pro Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2016-09-19 2012-04-05
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MOV, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 574 grams (1.27 lbs) 267 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 80 50
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 20.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.8 10.0
DXO Low light score 1312 573
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 360 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLH-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Two 1
Pricing at launch $1,700 $600