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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Updated by Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS16
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FH2, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is very similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was released 2 years later than the FH2 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-M1 scores vs the FH2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-M1 FH2 
AnnouncedOctober 2013January 2011More recent by 35 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-M1

 FH2 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH2

 E-M1 FH2 
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 offers physical measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic FH2 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FH2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M1 vs the FH2.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and FH2 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and FH2.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 featuring a larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-M1 will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M1 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography information
71
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/320s)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
33
good megapixels (14MP)
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography details
Panasonic FH2 Street photography details
78
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus by touch
environment sealing
lighter than average (497 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Panasonic FH2
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
bad battery life (350 shots)
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
better than average battery (270 per charge)
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography features
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography features
65
lighter than average (497g)
environment sealing
features focus by touch
resolution is good (16MP)
bad battery life (350 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly display
72
better than average battery (270 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (121g)
supports focus via touch
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography highlights
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
bad battery life (350 per charge)
41
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
better than average battery (270 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FH2 Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone jack
lighter than average (497g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
32
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
lighter than competitors (121g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS16
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-10-28 2011-01-05
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePIC VII Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, 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 reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 121 gr (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light score 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 photographs 270 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $799 $149