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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 III
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is fairly close but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and FH20 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 II was brought out 5 years later than the FH20 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-M5 II matches up versus the FH20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Panasonic FH20

 E-M5 II FH20 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2010Fresher by 62 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 FH20 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic FH20

 E-M5 II FH20 

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 II has physical measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH20 has measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 II versus the FH20.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 II and FH20 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The photograph underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and FH20.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 II due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M5 II will provide you with more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 II will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
28
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Street photography camera
82
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
environment proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography advice
Panasonic FH20 Sports photography advice
65
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
low battery pack (310 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography features
Panasonic FH20 Travel photography features
74
environment proofing
provides focus by touch
resolution is good (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
low battery pack (310 CIPA)
64
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography factors
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
low battery pack (310 shots)
37
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 II
Vlogging with Panasonic FH20
82
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone port
28
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic FH20
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-02-06 2010-01-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469g (1.03 pounds) 178g (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $699 $179