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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Announced October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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 referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH5, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the FH5 (16MP) is relatively similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 was introduced 2 years after the FH5 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M1 scores against the FH5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic FH5

 E-M1 FH5 
AnnouncedOctober 2013January 2011More modern by 35 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus E-M1

 FH5 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH5

 E-M1 FH5 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you should factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 has got physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH5 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 and the FH5.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and FH5 is 71 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and FH5.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature the identical megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-M1 provides the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh simpler. The younger E-M1 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320 seconds)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
34
good MP (16MP)
includes face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography info
Panasonic FH5 Street photography info
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
weather sealing
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography info
Panasonic FH5 Sports photography info
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (350 per charge)
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography features
Panasonic FH5 Travel photography features
65
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
weather sealing
includes touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
bad battery power (350 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
comes with focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography information
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
bad battery power (350 per charge)
38
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
33
fairly wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-10-28 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.30 m
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 reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/320s -
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 497g (1.10 pounds) 121g (0.27 pounds)
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 photos 260 photos
Form of battery 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 media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $799 $169