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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Released August 2020
  • Updated by Panasonic S5 II
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic S5, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and S5 (24MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and S5 (Full frame) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was unveiled 9 years earlier than the S5 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-M5 scores versus the S5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic S5

 E-M5 S5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Olympus E-M5

 S5 E-M5 
ReleasedAugust 2020April 2012More modern by 100 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1840k610kSharper display (+1230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic S5

 E-M5 S5 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display dimensions3"3.0"Equal display sizing
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 offers exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic S5 has sizing of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") having a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic S5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 against the S5.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and S5 is 81 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at specifications. The pic below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and S5.

To sum up, each of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic S5 will give more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S5 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
86
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
Panasonic S5 Street photography details
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus by touch
weather proof
good high ISO (25,600)
78
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
has touch focus
environment proof
good high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Panasonic S5
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
82
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proof
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Panasonic S5 Travel photography features
66
weather proof
has focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
79
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
has touch focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography information
Panasonic S5 Landscape photography information
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
does not have Time Lapse recording
86
you can focus manually
change lenses (Leica L mount)
screen is a decent size (3.0 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic S5 Vlogging highlights
34
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
79
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic S5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic S5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2012-04-30 2020-08-14
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Max boosted ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 225
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Number of lenses 107 31
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3.0 inches
Resolution of screen 610k dot 1,840k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 714 gr (1.57 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 440 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Storage slots 1 Two
Launch cost $799 $1,999