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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 III
Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and FS15 (12MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and FS15 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 II was manufactured 6 years later than the FS15 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise summary of how the E-M5 II grades vs the FS15 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Panasonic FS15

 E-M5 II FS15 
LaunchedFebruary 2015January 2009More recent by 74 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kClearer display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 FS15 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic FS15

 E-M5 II FS15 

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 II has external dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Panasonic FS15 has measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 II vs the FS15.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and FS15 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through specifications. The graphic below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and FS15.

Plainly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 II due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M5 II will give you more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 II should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography features
Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
20
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Street photography camera
82
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Sports photography camera
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proof
terrible battery life (310 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography advice
Panasonic FS15 Travel photography advice
74
weather proof
includes touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery life (310 CIPA)
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Panasonic FS15
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
terrible battery life (310 CIPA)
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS15 as a Vlogging camera
82
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic jack
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic FS15
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15
Category Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2015-02-06 2009-01-16
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 29-145mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 469 grams (1.03 lbs) 136 grams (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $699 $180