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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 III was launched 10 years after the FS12 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-M5 III matches up vs the FS12 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic FS12

 E-M5 III FS12 
LaunchedOctober 2019April 2009Newer by 128 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 FS12 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic FS12

 E-M5 III FS12 

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III has got external measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Panasonic FS12 has sizing of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 III vs the FS12.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and FS12 is 80 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading through a spec sheet. The picture underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 III and FS12.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 III due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Olympus E-M5 III will give you more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The newer E-M5 III should have an edge in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography factors
77
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography highlights
Panasonic FS12 Street photography highlights
83
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch focus
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography features
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography features
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (30.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (310 shots)
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography features
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography features
77
environment proof
supports bluetooth
includes touch focus
resolution is good (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery life (310 shots)
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography info
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography info
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
bad battery life (310 CIPA)
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
84
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has microphone jack
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2019-10-17 2009-04-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 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
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414g (0.91 pounds) 129g (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $1,199 $228