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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS16
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic FH2, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is very similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 was revealed 17 months later than the FH2 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M5 grades versus the FH2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-M5 FH2 
ReleasedApril 2012January 2011More recent by 17 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kSharper display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-M5

 FH2 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH2

 E-M5 FH2 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 has got exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic FH2 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic FH2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 against the FH2.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and FH2 is 81 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by reading technical specs. The photograph below should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and FH2.

As you have seen, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 using its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M5 will offer you more detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography features
71
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW formats
33
good resolution (14MP)
provides face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography features
Panasonic FH2 Street photography features
82
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
supports touch focus
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than others (121g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography advice
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
good battery life (270 CIPA)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography details
Panasonic FH2 Travel photography details
66
weather proof
supports touch focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
72
good battery life (270 per charge)
lighter than others (121 grams)
comes with touch to focus
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography info
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
lack of Time Lapse function
41
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
good battery life (270 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FH2 Vlogging factors
34
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
32
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
lighter than others (121g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FS16
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-04-30 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS 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 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
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 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 121 grams (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures 270 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $799 $149