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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 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
  • Released October 2013
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FS15, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and FS15 (12MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was announced 4 years later than the FS15 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-M1 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 over the Panasonic FS15

 E-M1 FS15 
LaunchedOctober 2013January 2009Fresher by 59 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus E-M1

 FS15 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FS15

 E-M1 FS15 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M1 has outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Panasonic FS15 has dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FS15 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 and the FS15.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and FS15 is 71 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing only by going over specs. The graphic below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and FS15.

All in all, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M1 will offer you more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The newer E-M1 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/320 seconds)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
20
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Panasonic FS15
78
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports focus via touch
environment sealing
lighter than others (497g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography info
Panasonic FS15 Sports photography info
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Panasonic FS15
65
lighter than others (497g)
environment sealing
supports focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography details
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Panasonic FS15
36
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic socket
lighter than others (497 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Class Pro Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2013-10-28 2009-01-16
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 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 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 29-145mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
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
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
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, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 lb) 136 grams (0.30 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" 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 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $799 $180