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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 III
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

In this article, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M5 II versus Panasonic GF5, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and GF5 (12MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 II was unveiled 2 years later than the GF5 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-M5 II scores vs the GF5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Panasonic GF5

 E-M5 II GF5 
ReleasedFebruary 2015April 2012Fresher by 35 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k920kCrisper screen (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 GF5 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic GF5

 E-M5 II GF5 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 II provides outside measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Panasonic GF5 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 II versus Panasonic GF5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 II against the GF5.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and GF5 is 80 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through specs. The graphic below will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and GF5.

All in all, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Olympus E-M5 II to show extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 II is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
55
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Street photography camera
82
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch focus
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
terrible battery life (310 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
40
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
74
weather sealing
features focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery life (310 shots)
61
provides touch focus
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery life (310 per charge)
59
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 II
Vlogging with Panasonic GF5
82
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic support
32
touchscreen
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2012-04-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469g (1.03 pounds) 267g (0.59 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 50
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 10.0
DXO Low light rating 896 573
Other
Battery life 310 shots 360 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $699 $600