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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 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
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Released January 2011
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FP5, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the FP5 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FP5 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was introduced 17 months later than the FP5 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-M5 scores against the FP5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FP5

 E-M5 FP5 
ReleasedApril 2012January 2011More recent by 17 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k230kCrisper display (+380k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Olympus E-M5

 FP5 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FP5

 E-M5 FP5 
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 has got physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic FP5 has specifications of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FP5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 vs the FP5.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and FP5 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and FP5.

As you can tell, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will offer you more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FP5 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
features face detection focus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FP5 as a Street photography camera
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers focus by touch
weather proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FP5 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
has no phase detect auto focus
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery (260 shots)
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FP5 Travel photography factors
66
weather proofing
offers focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly display
65
better than average battery (260 per charge)
offers focus by touch
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FP5 Landscape photography information
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
doesn't have Timelapse mode
40
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
better than average battery (260 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging info
Panasonic FP5 Vlogging info
34
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
30
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
wide angle not the best (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FP5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Announced 2012-04-30 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias 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 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 610k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.90 m
Flash settings 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 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425g (0.94 lb) 141g (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 shots 260 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $799 $199