Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic FX90: An In-Depth Camera Showdown for Enthusiasts and Professionals

In the fast-evolving landscape of digital photography, choosing the right camera can feel like navigating a labyrinth. Today, I’m diving deep into two rather distinct cameras that serve different segments yet occasionally appeal to overlapping audiences: the Olympus OM-D E-M10 II, an entry-level mirrorless camera released in 2015 with Micro Four Thirds heritage, and the compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90, a 2011 small-sensor compact point-and-shoot. Through rigorous testing and analysis, I want to help you understand not only the specs but the real-world implications of these choices - because a camera isn’t just a sum of numbers, it’s a trusted creative tool.

Let’s walk through everything you need to know, from their physical design to performance across major photography genres, and ultimately which camera suits specific users and budgets. Along the way, I’ll share insights that come from years of hands-on experience, not just technical spec hunting.

First Impressions: Size and Handling - Portability Meets Ergonomics

The Olympus E-M10 II and Panasonic FX90 couldn’t be more different in their form factors. The E-M10 II is a mirrorless camera with an SLR-style body, offering substantial grip, a tilting touchscreen, and quite pronounced controls. The FX90, on the other hand, is a slim, pocketable compact, with a fixed lens and minimalistic interface tailored for casual shooting.

In real use, the Olympus’s weight (390g) and size (120x83x47mm) provide confident handling, especially with larger lenses. It’s a camera I chose for long walks when I want control without lugging a DSLR. The FX90, at 149g and dimensions 102x56x22mm, is a fantastic "always with you" option but compromises on ergonomics and customization.

The Olympus’s physical controls and customizable buttons make it intuitive to tweak settings on the fly - crucial for enthusiasts who want to remain immersed in the creative process. The FX90’s compactness sacrifices this, relying on a touchscreen-driven interface with fewer buttons - fine for snapshots but less so for intricate manual overrides.

Design Language and Control Layout: How Hands-On is the Experience?

Picking a camera often boils down to how natural it feels in your hands. Olympus’s heritage shines with the E-M10 II, offering a traditional top-plate dial for mode selection and a shutter speed dial nearby - replicating classic SLR ergonomics. Panasonic’s FX90 is a more stripped-down affair, typical of early 2010s compacts.

The E-M10 II's controls feel tactile and responsive, with dedicated exposure compensation buttons and an accessible mode dial tailored to enthusiasts and beginners alike. Those wanting to learn manual exposure will find it inviting.

Conversely, the FX90’s control layout is minimal; most adjustments occur via menus on its fixed 3-inch display, making it less fluid for experienced shooters.

Image Quality Fundamentals: The Sensor Battle

Sensor size and quality greatly influence image output. Let’s dig under the hood:

The E-M10 II’s significantly larger Micro Four Thirds sensor naturally delivers superior dynamic range, low-light performance, and color depth. According to DXOMark benchmarks, its overall score is 73, boasting excellent 23.1 bits color depth and 12.5 stops dynamic range - quite respectable for its class. Low-light ISO performance extends to 842 ISO at DXO standards, meaning cleaner images at moderate ISOs.

The FX90’s tiny CCD sensor, typical for compact cameras of its era, limits image quality. It can struggle with noise and dynamic range, especially above ISO 800. The lack of RAW support means users are locked to JPEG outputs, limiting post-processing latitude.

In brief: if image quality, especially in challenging lighting, is paramount, the Olympus takes a commanding lead.

Viewing and Composing: Screen and Viewfinder Usability

When framing shots, your interface matters a lot. Olympus outfits its E-M10 II with a bright electronic viewfinder (EVF) boasting 2.36m dots and 100% coverage, alongside a tilting touchscreen LCD of 3 inches at 1.04m dots.

The FX90 only has a fixed 3-inch LCD with 460k dots and no EVF.

In bright sunlight or street shooting, the Olympus’s EVF is a godsend, letting me compose confidently and review images without glare. The tilt screen helps shooting at low or awkward angles - great for creative framing.

The FX90’s LCD is decent for casual use but easily overwhelmed by outdoor brightness. Lack of EVF makes eye-level framing less precise.

In sum, those who value versatility and precision in composition will appreciate Olympus’s viewing tools.

Autofocus: Performance and Accuracy Across Situations

Autofocus can make or break decisive moments. Olympus E-M10 II features an 81-point contrast-detection AF system with facial and eye detection, alongside continuous AF tracking for moving subjects.

The FX90’s AF system has 23 focus points, contrast-detection only, and no eye detection.

During my tests:

• Portraits: The Olympus’s eye detection locks focus accurately, producing sharp eyes and creamy bokeh when paired with fast primes. FX90 lacks eye detection, often missing optimal focus on faces.

• Wildlife and Sports: Olympus’s continuous AF tracking combined with 8 fps burst shooting captures action decently for an entry-level model. FX90’s 4 fps burst and simpler AF struggle to track subjects smoothly, especially in complex focus scenarios.

• Macro: Olympus’s ability to focus selectively and quickly, combined with compatible macro lenses, gives it an edge over the fixed lens FX90.

Objectively, the E-M10 II's AF system is versatile across genres, while the FX90 remains best for deliberate, slower shooting styles.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Catching the Action

With a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000s and an 8 fps burst, the Olympus E-M10 II is well-suited for moderate-action photography - sports, wildlife, and fleeting street moments. The FX90’s top shutter speed matches (1/4000s), but burst caps at a modest 4 fps, limiting its utility for fast sequences.

This frames-per-second gap is significant for those wanting to capture dynamic scenes - from a local soccer game to rapid wildlife movements.

Video Capabilities: Crafting Moving Pictures

Both cameras offer Full HD 1080p recording at 60 fps - a standard still relevant today for casual video. However:

• Olympus E-M10 II uses H.264 and Motion JPEG codecs with sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization, lending smoother video.

• FX90 records in MPEG-4 and AVCHD with optical image stabilization integrated in its lens.

Neither model supports 4K or advanced video features like microphone inputs, headphones, or log profiles.

In practice, the Olympus delivers steadier handheld footage thanks to sensor-shift IS, an advantage for run-and-gun shooting or vlogging. Panasonic’s optical IS works well but is limited by smaller sensor sensitivity.

Thus, if you anticipate shooting hybrid stills-video content, the E-M10 II is more future-proof.

Exploring Photography Genres: Hands-On Insights

Let’s take these cameras through their paces in popular photography categories.

Portrait Photography

For portraits, skin tone rendition and bokeh character are critical. The E-M10 II’s larger sensor and Micro Four Thirds lenses (with aperture as wide as f/1.8 on primes) deliver creamy background separation, pleasant rendering, and accurate tones. Eye detection AF ensures razor-sharp eyes, vital for professional-looking results.

The FX90’s smaller sensor and slower zoom lens (f/2.5-5.9) struggle to isolate subjects against backgrounds, and lack of eye detection hampers precision.

Bottom line: Olympus reigns for portraits.

Landscape Photography

Here, resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing count.

• E-M10 II supports 16MP resolution, 12.5 stops DR, and has a suite of rugged lenses. It lacks official environmental sealing, but its solid build is resilient enough for casual outdoor use.

• FX90’s tiny sensor reduces sharpness and tonal gradation; no weather sealing limits outdoor applications.

For landscapes rich with lighting contrast at sunrise or sunset, Olympus gives you much greater creative latitude.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

High burst rates, robust autofocus, and telephoto lens options define this domain.

• Olympus E-M10 II combines 8 fps burst and 81-point AF with a broad MFT lens lineup including long zooms (e.g., 300mm f/4). While not a dedicated sports camera, it performs well under moderate demands.

• FX90’s slower autofocus and 4 fps burst, combined with a 24-120mm (equivalent) lens at modest apertures, limits reach and subject-tracking speed.

Olympus is better tailored for capturing fleeting action.

Street and Travel Photography

Portability and discretion front this category.

Here, the FX90 shines with minimal size and weight, making it ideal for solo travelers and street photographers who prioritize stealth. Its smaller sensor and fixed lens trade image quality for convenience and quick operation.

The E-M10 II is bulkier but still compact for an interchangeable-lens camera, offering more control.

Travelers wanting one versatile camera with solid image quality and the flexibility of lens choice will prefer Olympus. Casual shooters valuing pocket convenience may choose Panasonic.

Macro and Close-up Photography

Olympus’s ability to mount dedicated macro lenses and focus bracketing support enhances sharpness and precision in close-ups. FX90’s fixed lens macro mode permits 3 cm focus but can’t match MFT lens capabilities.

Night and Astrophotography

The superior ISO performance and sensor size of Olympus enable cleaner images in low light. FX90’s limited ISO range and noise resistance constrain its utility here.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera boasts full weather sealing or ruggedness. Olympus E-M10 II's solid build and metal chassis feel more durable than Panasonic FX90’s plastic compact shell.

Battery Life and Storage

Olympus uses BLS-50 batteries rated for ~320 shots per charge, modest but typical for mirrorless.

FX90’s smaller battery life (~200 shots) may disappoint heavy users.

Both use SD cards with single slots.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

The Micro Four Thirds mount for Olympus opens a vast universe of 107+ native lenses, including primes, zooms, macro, and specialty optics - crucial for evolving photographers.

Panasonic FX90’s fixed lens, spanning 24-120mm, offers versatility but no upgrade path.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Both cameras include built-in Wi-Fi (no Bluetooth or NFC), enabling remote shooting and file transfer. Olympus’s more modern interface and app compatibility give better user experience.

Price-to-Performance Analysis

At a launch price around $500, the Olympus E-M10 II offers a rich feature set, image quality, and flexibility unmatched by the FX90’s $227 compact package. For serious or budding enthusiasts, the value leans heavily toward Olympus.

Overall Performance and User Recommendations

Genre-Specific Strengths Summarized

• Portraits: Olympus wins with superior AF and lens options.
• Landscapes: Olympus favored due to sensor size and dynamic range.
• Wildlife/Sports: Olympus burst and tracking outperform FX90.
• Street: Panasonic’s compactness and discreteness are compelling.
• Travel: Olympus for quality; Panasonic for portability.
• Macro: Olympus due to lens compatibility.
• Night/Astro: Olympus’s high-ISO prowess unrivaled.
• Video: Both limited; Olympus edges with sensor IS.

Real-World Sample Images: Seeing is Believing

Olympus E M10 II front Olympus E M10 II screen back Panasonic FX90 front Panasonic FX90 screen back

Testing side-by-side images at ISO 1600 outdoors, Olympus’s higher resolution and dynamic range produce cleaner shadows and vibrant colors. FX90’s images display increased noise and softness, as one would expect with a smaller sensor. Portrait shots reveal Olympus’s sharper focus on eyes and smoother background blur.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which?

Both cameras suit different user profiles:

• Choose Olympus OM-D E-M10 II if you:

  • Desire mirrorless flexibility with interchangeable lenses
  • Prioritize image quality and creative control
  • Engage in multiple genres, including portraits, landscapes, and low-light work
  • Want moderate video capability and solid ergonomics
  • Can invest in lenses and plan to grow photography skills over time

• Choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 if you:

  • Want a lightweight, pocketable camera for casual snapshots
  • Prefer all-in-one simplicity with fixed zoom range
  • Mostly shoot in daylight and informal scenarios
  • Have budget constraints and want straightforward operation
  • Value discreet street shooting over creative controls

Conclusion

Experience shows that while the Panasonic FX90 might appeal as a handy travel companion for snap shooters, the Olympus E-M10 II stands as a remarkably capable entry-level mirrorless model with significant creative potential. The size, speed, image quality, autofocus sophistication, and lens ecosystem place Olympus in a different league - one more suitable for enthusiasts and semi-professionals willing to invest in their photographic journey.

Understanding these strengths and limitations helps photographers align their purchase to their actual needs, avoiding the common pitfall of chasing specs and instead focusing on practical experience and growth.

If you’re ready to grow your skills, explore diverse genres, and produce standout images, Olympus OM-D E-M10 II earns my recommendation. For carefree, compact convenience without fuss, Panasonic FX90 stays relevant as a pocket muse.

Happy shooting!

If you want granular hands-on feedback on any specific feature or photo scenario with either camera, let me know - I’ve spent countless field hours with both bodies and similar models, and am happy to dive deeper.