Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GF5

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic GF5, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and GF5 (12MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was introduced 20 months later than the GF5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the E-M1 scores versus the GF5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery & Panasonic GF5 Gallery.

For those who are looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 features outside measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") along with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF5 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") and a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 and Panasonic GF5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 versus the GF5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and GF5 is 71 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 and GF5.

Clearly, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Olympus E-M1 to offer you more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 provides an advantage in sensor tech.