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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 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
  • New Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FS12, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was launched 4 years after the FS12 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-M1 scores against the FS12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic FS12

 E-M1 FS12 
RevealedOctober 2013April 2009Newer by 56 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-M1

 FS12 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FS12

 E-M1 FS12 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 features outer dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") and a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic FS12 has proportions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FS12 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M1 and the FS12.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and FS12 is 71 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading technical specs. The picture below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and FS12.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M1 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M1 will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The fresher E-M1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/320s)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
78
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch focus
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (497g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1
Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (350 CIPA)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography details
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography details
65
lighter than competition in class (497 grams)
weather proofing
has touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
terrible battery (350 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
terrible battery (350 per charge)
28
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging details
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging details
36
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone socket
lighter than competition in class (497g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Class Pro Mirrorless Ultracompact
Announced 2013-10-28 2009-04-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII -
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 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash options 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 Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 129 gr (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 757 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $228