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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 III
Panasonic XS1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Introduced January 2013
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic XS1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the XS1 (16MP) is pretty similar but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 II was brought out 2 years after the XS1 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-M5 II grades versus the XS1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Panasonic XS1

 E-M5 II XS1 
IntroducedFebruary 2015January 2013Newer by 26 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1037k230kClearer screen (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic XS1 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 XS1 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic XS1

 E-M5 II XS1 

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 II comes with outer measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") along with a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Panasonic XS1 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic XS1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 II against the XS1.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and XS1 is 80 and 97 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the difference between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specs. The picture underneath will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and XS1.

All in all, both cameras posses the exact same MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 II has got the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field less difficult. The younger E-M5 II should have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
30
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Street photography with Panasonic XS1
82
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (103g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Sports photography camera
65
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
low battery power (310 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
41
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography features
Panasonic XS1 Travel photography features
74
weather sealing
provides touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
selfie friendly display
low battery power (310 CIPA)
69
lighter than competitors in class (103 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery power (310 per charge)
39
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic XS1 as a Vlogging camera
82
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone port
31
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (103g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic XS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Panasonic XS1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIPanasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2015-02-06 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.40 m
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
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469 grams (1.03 lb) 103 grams (0.23 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
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 photos 260 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $699 $130