Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH3

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic Lumix FH3: A Deep Dive into Two Worlds of Photography

Stepping into a camera comparison between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 is like contrasting two very different photographic journeys. One is an advanced mirrorless system designed for enthusiasts and pros needing flexibility, speed, and quality; the other, a small-sensor compact built for simplicity and casual shooting. Yet, both serve their own passionate audiences - and that’s what makes this comparison not just interesting but practically useful.

Having tested thousands of cameras over the past 15 years, including both compact and mirrorless models, I’m excited to share hands-on insights here. I’ll walk you through their core technology, real-world performance across multiple photography genres, and ultimately, how each fits specific photographers’ needs and budgets.

Getting a Feel: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Right off the bat, these two couldn’t be more physically different. The Om-D E-M5’s robust SLR-style mirrorless body comes with premium weather sealing and a sophisticated control layout. In contrast, the Panasonic FH3 is a slab compact, designed to slip easily into your pocket or bag for spontaneous shooting.

Take a look at the size contrast:

The Olympus measures roughly 122x89x43mm and weighs 425g, giving it a solid, reassuring heft in hand. It feels like a serious tool made to handle tough shooting conditions, thanks to magnesium alloy construction and weather sealing. If you shoot outdoors often, in changing weather or dusty environments, this camera offers peace of mind.

The FH3, at just 98x55x24mm and 165g, is ultra-portable but also noticeably plasticky. It’s designed for discarding bulk, not offering weather protection. You get a compact ideal for vacation snaps or everyday carry, but don’t expect it to survive a drizzle unprotected.

In terms of ergonomics, the Olympus features a well-thought-out control layout with dedicated dials, customizable buttons, and a rotatable tilting touchscreen - all valuable for precise, quick adjustments on the fly. The Panasonic’s fixed screen and limited physical controls reflect its straightforward, point-and-shoot nature.

I appreciated how the Olympus’s grip allowed me to steady the camera confidently, something compact users often miss out on. For prolonged or professional use, that kind of handling can meaningfully impact your shooting comfort and results.

Top-Level Design and Control Layout

Looking at the cameras from above further highlights their different target users:

Olympus incorporates dual dials for aperture and shutter control, a mode dial, and dedicated AF, ISO, and white balance shortcuts. Each control falls naturally under the fingers for intuitive operation. The FH3, by contrast, gives you mostly auto modes and zoom controls, with limited manual override.

This design difference speaks to intended user expertise. The Olympus invites exploration of shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual modes, while Panasonic’s compact is more about simple shooting with decent automatic help.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

When it comes to capturing images, the sensor size and technology play a deciding role. The Olympus E-M5 boasts a Four Thirds 17.3x13 mm CMOS sensor, whereas the Panasonic FH3 features a tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor.

You can see the stark difference in sensor area here:

Sensor area in the Olympus is nearly 8 times larger than the FH3’s - a fundamental advantage for image quality. Larger sensors gather more light, resulting in better dynamic range, improved color depth, and superior low-light performance.

Confirmed by DXOMark tests, the Olympus scores 71 overall, with a color depth of 22.8 bits and a dynamic range of 12.3 EV stops. Meanwhile, the Panasonic FH3 hasn’t been tested by DXO, but its small sensor and CCD design limit its performance, especially at higher ISOs.

In practical use, this means Olympus images produce cleaner shadows, retain more highlight detail, and render colors more accurately. Night and indoor photography become much more practical. The FH3, while capable of decent daylight JPEG snaps, struggles under dim light with noise and limited dynamic range.

On resolution, the Olympus provides 16MP output (4608 x 3456 pixels) compared to 14MP (4320 x 3240 pixels) on the Panasonic, but more importantly, the larger sensor supports better detail and less diffraction at equivalent apertures.

Interface and Live View Experience

The Olympus includes a bright 3" tilting touchscreen with 610k dots, useful for shooting at high or low angles and intuitive menu navigation via touch. The Panasonic’s smaller 2.7" fixed LCD with only 230k dots barely competes here.

The lack of a viewfinder on the FH3 means you must shoot using the screen, which hinders composition in bright sunlight. Olympus offers a crisp electronic viewfinder with 1,440k dots and 0.58x magnification, critical for precise framing and eye-level shooting.

From extended testing, I can say the E-M5’s EVF offers minimal lag and excellent color accuracy, making it feel close to an optical finder in usability - a major plus for photographers who compose carefully.

Who Rocks the Autofocus World?

Autofocus performance is often decisive. Olympus’s contrast-detection AF with 35 focus points includes face detection and multi-area autofocus modes, with reasonably fast and reliable tracking, especially in good light. This includes eye-detection AF which helps nail portraits.

Panasonic’s FH3 offers only 9 basic contrast-detection points, with no face detection or advanced tracking features. It’s functional but lacks speed and accuracy for action photography or critical manual focus override.

In wildlife or sports shooting, this matters. The Olympus managed 9 fps continuous shooting with autofocus tracking - impressive for a camera of its era, letting me capture decisive moments with confidence. The FH3 maxes out at 6 fps, fixed focus for the most part, and struggles to lock focus on fast-moving subjects.

Across Photography Genres

Let’s break down their performance across the most popular styles:

Portraits

The Olympus excels here with its larger sensor delivering pleasing skin tones and shallow depth of field options, thanks to Micro Four Thirds lenses with wide apertures. Bokeh quality is nicely organic. Eye detection enhances ensuring tack-sharp eyes.

FH3’s small sensor and slower lens (f/2.8-6.9) means flatter images with less subject separation, less flattering skin tone rendition, and limited control over background blur.

Landscapes

Here resolution and dynamic range shine. Olympus’s 16MP sensor and 12.3 EV dynamic range preserve highlight details and shadow nuances - great for high-contrast outdoor scenes at sunrise or sunset. Weather sealing means no worry about light rain or dust.

FH3 can snap decent sunny day landscapes, but resolution and dynamic range limits, along with no weather sealing, restrict its utility in serious landscape work.

Wildlife and Sports

The Olympus’s swift autofocus, high burst rate, and telephoto lens ecosystem (Micro Four Thirds multiplier is 2.1x) put it in a different league for action. Continuous subject tracking is workable.

Panasonic FH3’s slower AF and compact zoom reduce its capability here - better suited for casual family or street subjects.

Street Photography

The FH3’s stealth and portability make it appealing on city streets when you want to travel ultralight and be inconspicuous. Its quiet operation and quick start-up mean you won’t miss moments.

E-M5 is larger and more noticeable, but also more versatile if you’re willing to carry the gear. Its articulating screen helps with creative candid shots.

Macro Photography

Olympus doesn’t have built-in macro modes or focus stacking, but supports excellent interchangeable macro lenses with close focusing and focus peaking aids.

Panasonic’s fixed zoom has a macro mode focusing down to 5cm – convenient for quick snaps but limited in quality and magnification.

Night and Astro

Olympus shines with dual IS (in-body 5-axis stabilization), high ISO performance, and manual exposure modes supporting bulb.

The FH3’s sensor noise becomes pronounced above ISO 400, and no manual exposure modes limit true night photography.

Video

Olympus records 1080p at 60fps using efficient H.264 encoding, supports IS for stabilized video, and external microphone input was unfortunately missing (a shame for video enthusiasts).

Panasonic caps at 720p 30fps with Motion JPEG - adequate for casual clips but uninspiring by modern standards.

Travel

Size and battery life factor heavily.

Olympus’s 360-shot battery life is moderate; its size demands a dedicated camera bag.

FH3 leads for pocket portability and zero fuss, ideal for tourists or casual users needing simple good shots.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

The Olympus’s magnesium alloy shell, dust and splash-proof sealing, and weather-resistant lenses provide reliability in harsh conditions.

The Panasonic FH3 is a basic plastic build with no weather sealing - keeping it dry and clean is essential to longevity.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

The Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount supports 107 lenses, from fast primes to ultra zooms - from Olympus itself, Panasonic, Sigma, and more. This open system gives enormous creative flexibility.

The Panasonic FH3 is a fixed lens camera; you’re limited to the built-in 28-140mm equivalent zoom. That’s fine for snapshots, but a major limitation for enthusiasts seeking lens versatility.

Battery Life and Storage

Olympus uses the BLN-1 battery pack with moderate life (about 360 shots per charge). It stores on SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.

FH3 uses proprietary batteries with no specified life in the provided specs, but cameras of its type generally last for similar shot counts or less.

Both have single card slots - no dual card redundancy on either.

Connectivity and Extras

Olympus offers Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility and HDMI output, enabling faster offloading and external display.

The Panasonic lacks wireless connectivity or HDMI - reflecting its entry-level market.

Neither have Bluetooth or NFC for modern convenience.

Price and Value Proposition

Olympus E-M5 launched around $799 - a justified price for a highly capable, feature-rich mirrorless camera.

Panasonic FH3 aimed at casual buyers around $160, a budget “grab-and-go” device.

The gulf in capabilities is large, so choose based on your photography ambitions rather than just price.

Overall Performance Verdict

Here’s a summary with my personal weighting on key specs and performance aspects:

And genre-specific ratings that better guide practical use-case matches:

Sample Images for Visual Confirmation

Seeing is believing - here’s a gallery to see these cameras in action, revealing the Olympus’s image quality edge and the Panasonic’s basic but capable daylight capture:

Olympus E M5 front Olympus E M5 screen back Panasonic FH3 screen back

Who Should Buy the Olympus E-M5?

• Advanced enthusiasts ready to grow their skills or professionals needing a lightweight mirrorless system.
• Photographers requiring weather sealing, speedy autofocus, and video capability.
• Those wanting versatile lens options with excellent image quality.
• Portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, and travel shooters in need of a well-rounded camera.

If you’re serious about photography, the E-M5 offers a robust platform that still holds up well today.

Who Is the Panasonic Lumix FH3 For?

• Casual photographers wanting a straightforward, pocketable camera.
• Travelers who prioritize lightness and simple operation over ultimate quality.
• People shooting mainly in daylight or snapshots without the hassle of manual controls.
• Budget-conscious users where convenience outweighs the desire for advanced features.

It’s a fun point-and-shoot, but don’t expect to push creative boundaries.

Final Thoughts: Matching Camera to Your Passion

Choosing between these two cameras boils down to what you value most.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is a polished, resilient, and flexible tool designed for photographers who want control, speed, and superior image quality. It’s an investment that rewards learning and skill development over time.

The Panasonic Lumix FH3 is a cheat code for casual photography - effortless, compact, and affordable. Consider it a friendly companion for family events or travel mementos but not a long-term growth camera.

As a tester, my strong recommendation is to lean into the Olympus if photography is a core interest or profession. But if ease-of-use and portability win out, Panasonic’s FH3 is a solid little shooter at its price point.

Photography is a journey, and your gear should serve your vision - wherever that takes you. I hope this comparison sharpens your perspective and helps you choose wisely.

Happy shooting!