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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 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
  • Announced April 2012
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS18
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the FH5 (16MP) is relatively similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was manufactured 17 months after the FH5 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-M5 scores versus the FH5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FH5

 E-M5 FH5 
RevealedApril 2012January 2011More modern by 17 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kSharper screen (+380k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus E-M5

 FH5 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH5

 E-M5 FH5 
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 has got external measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH5 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH5 in the all 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 employing during that time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 versus the FH5.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and FH5 is 81 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by reviewing specs. The picture underneath may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and FH5.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The E-M5 uses the bigger sensor which should make getting shallower DOF simpler. The newer E-M5 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
34
good MP (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography info
Panasonic FH5 Street photography info
82
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has focus via touch
environment proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FH5 Sports photography factors
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
has no phase detect AF
40
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
low frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FH5 Travel photography advice
66
environment proof
has focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly display
71
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
supports touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH5
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
no Timelapse mode
38
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no microphone port
33
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS18
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-04-30 2011-01-05
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lb) 121 grams (0.27 lb)
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 photographs 260 photographs
Style of battery 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
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $169