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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 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
  • Launched October 2019
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Successor is OM System OM-5
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF1
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF3
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic GF2, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and GF2 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 III was brought out 8 years after the GF2 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-M5 III scores against the GF2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Panasonic GF2

 E-M5 III GF2 
IntroducedOctober 2019February 2011Newer by 106 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 GF2 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic GF2

 E-M5 III GF2 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III comes with outside dimensions 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 GF2 has sizing of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") having a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic GF2 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 III versus the GF2.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and GF2 is 80 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by researching specs. The pic below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and GF2.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Olympus E-M5 III to result in more detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 III is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Portrait photography factors
77
manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
60
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Street photography with Panasonic GF2
83
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
65
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Panasonic GF2
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (30.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (310 per charge)
38
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography highlights
Panasonic GF2 Travel photography highlights
77
environment sealing
has bluetooth
comes with touch focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery power (310 shots)
52
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
terrible battery life (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography advice
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery power (310 CIPA)
55
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
terrible battery life (300 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging factors
Panasonic GF2 Vlogging factors
84
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone jack
32
touchscreen functionality
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Panasonic GF2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIPanasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2019-10-17 2011-02-24
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 121 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type 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 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414 grams (0.91 lbs) 310 grams (0.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 54
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 506
Other
Battery life 310 images 300 images
Battery style 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 recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Cost at release $1,199 $330