Olympus E-M1 II vs Panasonic LX5

In this write-up, we are matching up the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic LX5, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 II (20MP) and LX5 (10MP) and the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and LX5 (1/1.63") come with totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The E-M1 II was revealed 4 years later than the LX5 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-M1 II scores versus the LX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-M1 II Gallery & Panasonic LX5 Gallery.

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 II comes with physical dimensions 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 LX5 has proportions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 II and Panasonic LX5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 II versus the LX5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 II and LX5 is 68 and 88 respectively.

Normally, it's difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 II and LX5.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 II using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M1 II will offer you extra detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 II will have a benefit in sensor innovation.