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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 front
Portability
55
Imaging
51
Features
80
Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 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 Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Later Model is OM System OM-5
Panasonic FZ1000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-400mm (F2.8-4.0) lens
  • 831g - 137 x 99 x 131mm
  • Revealed June 2014
  • Updated by Panasonic FZ2500
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the FZ1000 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and FZ1000 (1") enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 III was introduced 5 years after the FZ1000 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ1000 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-M5 III grades against the FZ1000 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic FZ1000

 E-M5 III FZ1000 
RevealedOctober 2019June 2014More modern by 66 months
Display resolution1040k921kCrisper display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ1000 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 FZ1000 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic FZ1000

 E-M5 III FZ1000 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 III features outside dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ1000 has measurements of 137mm x 99mm x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2") accompanied by a weight of 831 grams (1.83 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 III and the FZ1000.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and FZ1000 is 80 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The image below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and FZ1000.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The E-M5 III features the larger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The fresher E-M5 III is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ1000
77
has manual focus
good MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
70
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ1000 as a Street photography camera
83
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
70
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography factors
Panasonic FZ1000 Sports photography factors
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
max frames per second high (30.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery power (310 CIPA)
67
great zoom range (25-400mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
features tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography details
Panasonic FZ1000 Travel photography details
77
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
good MP (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
low battery power (310 per charge)
65
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (400mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography details
Panasonic FZ1000 Landscape photography details
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery power (310 per charge)
64
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging details
Panasonic FZ1000 Vlogging details
84
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
comes with mic support
66
pretty wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic port
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic FZ1000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic FZ1000
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000
Category Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2019-10-17 2014-06-12
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Venus Engine
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 64 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
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 49
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-400mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-4.0
Macro focus range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.50 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
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 3840x2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p) 1280x720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 grams (0.91 lbs) 831 grams (1.83 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 137 x 99 x 131mm (5.4" x 3.9" x 5.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.7
DXO Low light score not tested 517
Other
Battery life 310 shots 360 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 DMW-BLC12PP
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) -
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,199 $800