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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(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
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Introduced February 2020
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic FS15, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-M1 III (20MP) and FS15 (12MP) and the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-M1 III was launched 11 years later than the FS15 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a thorough comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-M1 III matches up vs the FS15 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Panasonic FS15

 E-M1 III FS15 
RevealedFebruary 2020January 2009Fresher by 135 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 FS15 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic FS15

 E-M1 III FS15 

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 III has external dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Panasonic FS15 has measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic FS15 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 III compared to the FS15.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and FS15 is 67 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by checking specifications. The visual underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 III and FS15.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M1 III will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 III is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS15
77
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
20
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography information
Panasonic FS15 Street photography information
78
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Sports photography information
Panasonic FS15 Sports photography information
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
max frames per second high (60.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Travel photography features
Panasonic FS15 Travel photography features
79
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
features touch to focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography info
Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography info
81
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
two card slots
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Vlogging camera
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
comes with microphone socket
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Type Pro Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2020-02-11 2009-01-16
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic IX -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 11
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 29-145mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580 gr (1.28 lb) 136 gr (0.30 lb)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 420 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLH-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 2 One
Cost at launch $1,800 $180