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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 front
Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FZ2500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • 24-480mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 915g - 138 x 102 x 135mm
  • Released September 2016
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FZ2000
  • Succeeded the Panasonic FZ1000
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Overview

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the FZ2500 (20MP) is very similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FZ2500 (1") possess different sensor size.

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The E-M1 was introduced 3 years before the FZ2500 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ2500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-M1 matches up versus the FZ2500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic FZ2500

 E-M1 FZ2500 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ2500 over the Olympus E-M1

 FZ2500 E-M1 
ReleasedSeptember 2016October 2013Fresher by 35 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k1037kCrisper display (+3k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FZ2500

 E-M1 FZ2500 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 comes with exterior dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ2500 has measurements of 138mm x 102mm x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3") accompanied by a weight of 915 grams (2.02 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M1 compared to the FZ2500.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and FZ2500 is 71 and 53 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The photograph underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and FZ2500.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic FZ2500 will offer more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-M1 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FZ2500 Portrait photography details
71
manual focus
high flash sync (1/320 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1
Street photography with Panasonic FZ2500
78
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
environment sealing
lighter than others in class (497g)
good ISO range (25,600)
70
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
offers touch to focus
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FZ2500 as a Sports photography camera
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (350 per charge)
69
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
features tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FZ2500 Travel photography factors
65
lighter than others in class (497 grams)
environment sealing
boasts focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FZ2500 Landscape photography details
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery power (350 CIPA)
65
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FZ2500 Vlogging factors
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone jack
lighter than others in class (497g)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
decently wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes microphone support
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FZ2500
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FZ2000
Category Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-10-28 2016-09-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias 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 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 49
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-4.5
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.20 m (at 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, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/320 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4096 x 2060 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 497g (1.10 lbs) 915g (2.02 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 138 x 102 x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 70
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.6
DXO Low light rating 757 538
Other
Battery life 350 photos 350 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 DMW-BLC12
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $799 $998