Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic FZ80

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M5 II versus Panasonic FZ80, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the FZ80 (18MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and FZ80 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 II was announced 23 months prior to the FZ80 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M5 II matches up versus the FZ80 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M5 II & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-M5 II Gallery & Panasonic FZ80 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 II comes with physical dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ80 has measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") accompanied by a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 II versus Panasonic FZ80 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-M5 II and the FZ80.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and FZ80 is 80 and 63 respectively.

Generally, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and FZ80.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 II having a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Panasonic FZ80 will show more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older E-M5 II will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.