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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 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 FH7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released September 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS22
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH7, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the FH7 (16MP) is relatively similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FH7 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was released 8 months after the FH7 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-M5 grades against the FH7 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FH7

 E-M5 FH7 
ReleasedApril 2012September 2011Newer by 8 months
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution610k230kClearer screen (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Olympus E-M5

 FH7 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH7

 E-M5 FH7 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with physical 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 FH7 has measurements of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 compared to the FH7.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and FH7 is 81 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions just by reviewing technical specs. The image below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and FH7.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide the same megapixels albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-M5 comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallow DOF less difficult. The fresher E-M5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FH7 Portrait photography highlights
71
has manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
34
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FH7 Street photography highlights
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus by touch
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
lighter than competition (126g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
lack of phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FH7 Travel photography advice
66
weather proof
offers focus by touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
71
lighter than competition (126g)
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FH7 Landscape photography advice
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
no Time Lapse function
43
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
34
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (126g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FH7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FH7
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS22
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-04-30 2011-09-07
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 measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 610k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 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
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 126 grams (0.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 260 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $799 $149