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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1

Portability
80
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
Portability
81
Imaging
50
Features
57
Overall
52

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 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
  • Launched February 2015
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 III
Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH2
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and GH1 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 II was brought out 5 years after the GH1 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 II grades vs the GH1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Panasonic GH1

 E-M5 II GH1 
RevealedFebruary 2015July 2009Newer by 68 months
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 GH1 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic GH1

 E-M5 II GH1 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II features physical measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) and the Panasonic GH1 has dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") along with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 II against the GH1.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 II and GH1 is 80 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The picture below might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and GH1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus E-M5 II to render more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer E-M5 II provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography information
72
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography factors
Panasonic GH1 Street photography factors
82
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
environment proofing
great high ISO (25,600)
72
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography features
Panasonic GH1 Sports photography features
65
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
33
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery pack (320 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography details
Panasonic GH1 Travel photography details
74
environment proofing
offers focus via touch
good resolution (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery life (310 per charge)
58
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (320 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH1
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
low battery pack (320 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging features
Panasonic GH1 Vlogging features
82
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic support
72
selfie friendly screen
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic GH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic GH1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2015-02-06 2009-07-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine HD
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 18.89 x 14.48mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 273.5mm²
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
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 3200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 1.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.50 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469g (1.03 lb) 385g (0.85 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 64
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 11.6
DXO Low light rating 896 772
Other
Battery life 310 photos 320 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $699 $949