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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FH20, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M1 was introduced 3 years later than the FH20 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-M1 grades versus the FH20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic FH20

 E-M1 FH20 
IntroducedOctober 2013January 2010More recent by 47 months
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-M1

 FH20 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH20

 E-M1 FH20 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 has external dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH20 has dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FH20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the FH20.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and FH20 is 71 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and FH20.

Plainly, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M1 will provide more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The younger E-M1 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/320 seconds)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
28
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Panasonic FH20
78
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch focus
weather proof
lighter than others in class (497g)
great high ISO (25,600)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography details
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
low battery life (350 CIPA)
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Panasonic FH20
65
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
weather proof
offers touch focus
decent MP (16MP)
low battery life (350 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
64
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography advice
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
low battery life (350 CIPA)
37
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Panasonic FH20
36
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone support
lighter than others in class (497g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-10-28 2010-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash modes 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, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 497 gr (1.10 pounds) 178 gr (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $799 $179