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Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 410g - 122 x 84 x 50mm
  • Launched August 2017
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M10 II
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M10 IV
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the E-M10 III (16MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M10 III was introduced 8 years later than the FS12 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short view of how the E-M10 III grades versus the FS12 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 III over the Panasonic FS12

 E-M10 III FS12 
LaunchedAugust 2017April 2009Fresher by 102 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-M10 III

 FS12 E-M10 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 III and Panasonic FS12

 E-M10 III FS12 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M10 III features outer dimensions of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Panasonic FS12 has dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-M10 III against the FS12.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M10 III and FS12 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing just by researching a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M10 III and FS12.

Clearly, both of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M10 III using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M10 III will render extra detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more recent E-M10 III will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography factors
73
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M10 III
Street photography with Panasonic FS12
77
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
heavier than competitors in class (410 grams)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Sports photography info
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography info
69
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Travel photography features
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography features
67
has touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
heavier than competitors in class (410 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography advice
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
28
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
32
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (410g)
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Launched 2017-08-31 2009-04-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410g (0.90 lbs) 129g (0.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $650 $228