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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 front
Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Panasonic FZ70
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 606g - 130 x 97 x 118mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 Overview

Following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FZ70, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the FZ70 (16MP) is relatively similar but the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and FZ70 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 was announced 4 months after the FZ70 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-M1 grades vs the FZ70 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Panasonic FZ70

 E-M1 FZ70 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ70 over the Olympus E-M1

 FZ70 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FZ70

 E-M1 FZ70 
AnnouncedOctober 2013July 2013Similar generation
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 provides 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) whilst the Panasonic FZ70 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6") with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 versus Panasonic FZ70 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M1 vs the FZ70.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M1 and FZ70 is 71 and 63 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specs. The picture below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 and FZ70.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-M1 contains the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult.

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FZ70 Portrait photography advice
71
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/320 seconds)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
56
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Panasonic FZ70 Street photography features
78
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch focus
weather proofing
lighter than competition (497 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
49
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition (606 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ70 Sports photography details
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
55
amazing zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery life (400 CIPA)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ70
65
lighter than competition (497g)
weather proofing
offers touch focus
good megapixels (16MP)
not so great battery pack (350 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
55
good battery life (400 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (20mm)
great reach (1200mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (606g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ70 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
54
has manual focus
rather wide (20mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (400 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ70
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic support
lighter than competition (497g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
26
rather wide (20mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competition (606g)
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Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic FZ70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic FZ70
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70
Type Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-10-28 2013-07-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePIC VII Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 20-1200mm (60.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Screen LCD Display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 202 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 13.50 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, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (50i/60i, 25p/30p), 1280 x 720p (50p/60p or 25p/30p), 640 x 480 (25p/30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 pounds) 606 gr (1.34 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 130 x 97 x 118mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 41
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 19.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 10.8
DXO Low light rating 757 171
Other
Battery life 350 shots 400 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $799 $300