Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FP7: An In-Depth Comparison for Photographers in Search of Their Ideal Tool

Having tested thousands of cameras over the past 15 years – from ultra-compact digitals to full-frame beasts – I’ve developed a keen sense of what each model has to offer in real-life shooting situations. Today, I’m putting the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7 side-by-side to guide you through their nuances, strengths, and limitations. These two cameras come from very different design philosophies and eras: the Olympus E-M5 representing the advanced mirrorless segment since 2012, and the older Panasonic FP7 embodying ultra-compact convenience from 2011.

Whether you’re an enthusiast seeking versatility, a street photographer craving discretion, or an occasional snapshooter wanting ease of use, we’ll walk through performance and practical use cases with an honest eye grounded in extensive hands-on experience.

How They Feel in Your Hands: Size, Ergonomics, and Build

One of the first sensory impressions of a camera is how it sits in your grip, its weight distribution, button layout, and controls. These ergonomic factors often make or break a user’s shootability.

The Olympus E-M5 is unmistakably an advanced mirrorless camera with a solid, SLR-style body weighing about 425 grams. Its robust magnesium-alloy construction comes with weather sealing, adding a reassuring heft and feel of durability that’s very useful in demanding outdoor environments. The body measures approximately 122x89x43mm, providing a firm grip that encourages longer handheld shooting periods. I often use the E-M5 for long hikes and urban explorations without fatigue, thanks to its balanced form factor.

In contrast, the Panasonic FP7 tips the scales at just 147 grams and boasts a compact 101x59x18mm footprint. This ultra-compact design fits effortlessly in a jacket pocket or purse, which is ideal for casual travellers or those who prioritize portability over advanced control. However, its smaller size naturally limits how much ergonomic refinement is possible - buttons can feel less tactile, and holding steady can be a chore under certain conditions.

Top View and Control Layout: Intuitive or Minimalist?

The way cameras place their dials, buttons, and exposure controls directly affects shooting flow - especially for fast-paced photography disciplines.

Here the Olympus E-M5 shines with a thoughtfully designed interface that invites manual operation. Its TruePic VI processor enables quick response times, while physical dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and shooting modes allow me to adjust settings on the fly without diving into menus. It also includes customizable buttons, cleverly placed for easy thumb access, which I programmed to suit my workflow. The presence of an electronic viewfinder with a crisp 1,440k-dot resolution ensures precise framing even in bright light.

The Panasonic FP7 adopts a minimalist top panel with fewer dedicated controls; it lacks traditional manual exposure modes altogether. It instead revolves around a combo touchscreen and simple menus, catering to point-and-shoot users who prefer automatic operation. For enthusiasts, this is a constraining factor, as manual aperture or shutter priority modes are unavailable and could hinder creative control.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Sensor technology dramatically impacts image rendering, dynamic range, high ISO performance, and depth of field - which all influence which camera suits your photography style.

The Olympus E-M5 features a 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3x13mm with a sensor area of ~225 mm². This sensor size, combined with the Micro Four Thirds lens mount and TruePic VI processing engine, delivers excellent image quality with good dynamic range (12.3 EV according to DxOMark) and respectable low-light performance up to ISO 2600 usable. I found color depth around 22.8 bits, enabling nuanced skin tones for portraits and vibrant landscape color fidelity.

By comparison, the Panasonic FP7 uses a much smaller 1/2.3” CCD sensor, about 6.08x4.56mm (around 27.7 mm² area), which dramatically limits its light-gathering ability. This results in more noise at ISO values above 400 and a narrower dynamic range. While 16MP resolution is promised, pixel-level sharpness and detail retention diminish in complex scenes. For casual snapshots and well-lit scenarios, it works fine, but it’s unsuitable for large prints or professional applications.

Viewing and Composing: Screens and Viewfinders

Framing your shot accurately influences composition and focus precision.

The Olympus E-M5 boasts a high-resolution 3” tilting OLED touchscreen with 610k dots and 100% viewfinder coverage from its electronic viewfinder (EVF). This setup allows flexible shooting angles and precise framing in bright sunlight. The touchscreen supports focus point selection and menu navigation.

On the other hand, the Panasonic FP7 offers a larger 3.5” fixed TFT touchscreen but with a significantly lower 230k-dot resolution and no dedicated EVF. While the LCD is responsive and bright, composing in strong outdoor light requires some adjustment. The absence of a viewfinder can slow down framing and stability for action or street photography.

Autofocus Capabilities: Speed and Accuracy

Autofocus (AF) technology determines how well a camera locks onto subjects, tracks movement, and performs in low light - particularly essential for wildlife, sports, and candid moments.

The Olympus E-M5 features a contrast-detection autofocus system with 35 focus points, including face detection and selectable multi-area focusing modes. It offers continuous AF capable of 9 fps shooting bursts, which proved reliable in my field tests tracking moving subjects. Eye detection, though limited compared to modern models, generally helped portrait work by locking focus on eyes for sharp portraits with natural skin rendition.

The Panasonic FP7 is more basic, sporting an 11-point AF system with contrast detection but no continuous or single AF modes beyond basic autofocus. Tracking moving subjects is challenging, and AF can exhibit noticeable hunting in low light or complex scenes. For casual travel snapshots or still subjects, it’s acceptable, but performance dips in dynamic environments.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

One of the major advantages of mirrorless systems like the Olympus E-M5 is lens interchangeability, enabling adaption to various creative needs.

With the Micro Four Thirds mount, Olympus offers access to over 100 lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to super-telephotos, including fast-aperture glass optimized for portraits and macro work. This remarkable ecosystem is attractive to photographers wanting to explore macro, landscape, and wildlife photography in depth.

In contrast, the Panasonic FP7 has a fixed lens with a 35-140mm (equivalent) zoom and max aperture F3.5–5.9. While this covers typical compact camera zoom needs, it limits versatility and image quality. For instance, the longer telephoto end suffers softness and reduced sharpness compared to prime lenses. Macro capabilities are similarly fixed, only allowing close focusing down to 10 cm.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance is crucial for outdoor shoots, travel, or event coverage.

The Olympus E-M5 utilizes a BLN-1 battery pack rated at approximately 360 shots per charge in mixed use. My experience aligns with this, delivering solid half-day shooting without spare batteries, provided the EVF and LCD usage is moderate.

Conversely, the Panasonic FP7 claims around 240 shots per charge. Given its compact design and simpler electronics, this is reasonable, but for extended travel days, extra batteries or portable chargers become essential.

Both cameras employ a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. The E-M5 supports higher-capacity cards and faster interfaces, beneficial for handling large RAW files and burst shooting.

Practical Performance Across Photography Genres

After covering technical fundamentals, let’s examine how the cameras perform in actual genre scenarios, balanced with my personal field insights.

Olympus E M5 front Olympus E M5 screen back Panasonic FP7 front Panasonic FP7 screen back

Portrait Photography

I tested skin tones and bokeh rendering using the Olympus E-M5 paired with fast 45mm f/1.8 and 75mm f/1.8 lenses. The result was pleasing, with smooth tonal gradations and natural eye catchlights, thanks partially to decent eye-detection autofocus. Background separation was attractive, leveraging the larger sensor and fast primes.

The Panasonic FP7, however, cannot replicate these effects meaningfully due to its smaller sensor and slower fixed-aperture zoom lens. Bokeh tends to be flat and less isolated; skin rendering is more prone to noise and lacks subtle tonality gradation, especially in lower light.

Landscape Photography

The richer dynamic range and resolution of the Olympus sensor lend themselves well to landscape work. I found detail retention in highlights and shadows strong after processing RAW files, and weather sealing was crucial during gusty or misty conditions. The extensive lens line-up offers ultra-wide-angle options for sweeping vistas.

The Panasonic FP7’s small sensor and limited ISO flexibility reduced image quality here, with visible noise and restricted shadow detail especially evident in complex scenes. Its fixed zoom is handy for casual framing but not optimized for landscape precision or large prints.

Wildlife Photography

The Olympus benefits from higher burst rates (9 fps) and fast, reliable AF tracking, necessary for capturing moving animals. The array of telephoto lenses sharpens this capability further. Its weather sealing also comes in handy for unpredictable outdoors use.

The Panasonic FP7’s slower 4 fps and modest AF system struggle with fast action or distant subjects. While suitable for casual backyard or zoo photos, it’s not a serious contender for wildlife photography beyond limited casual use.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, the E-M5’s continuous autofocus and faster frame rate support tracking athletes in motion. The customization options speed up adjustments during varied lighting. Low-light sports or indoor gym action is feasible up to moderate ISOs (1600-3200).

The FP7’s limited shutter speed ceiling (1/1600s max) and absence of continuous AF hinder sports shooting dramatically. Its autofocus can’t reliably track fast subjects, and image quality degradation occurs in artificial lighting.

Street Photography

The Panasonic FP7’s small size and discreet design make it a convenient street camera. Its minimal shutter noise and instant start enable nimble candid shooting, ideal for unobtrusive urban photography.

The Olympus E-M5, though more capable technically, is larger and can draw more attention - something street photographers sometimes wish to avoid. However, its tilt screen and EVF provide compositional advantages in busy environments.

Macro Photography

For close-up detail, the Olympus system shines especially with dedicated macro lenses offering precise manual focusing and 1:1 magnification. Sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization further eases handholding.

The FP7 can focus down to 10 cm, adequate for casual macro but limited in magnification and without stabilization benefits, resulting in less sharpness and restricted creative potential.

Night and Astro Photography

The superior high-ISO performance and exposure flexibility of the E-M5 enable cleaner night sky captures and longer exposures with lower noise. Its manual exposure modes and bulb functionality support astrophotography.

Given the FP7’s lower sensitivity ceiling (ISO 6400 max but noisy beyond 400+) and limited exposure control, it is not recommended for night or astro work unless in very bright urban settings.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras offer video but with very different outputs.

The Olympus E-M5 can record Full HD 1080p at 60 fps using H.264 encoding, suitable for casual to intermediate video projects. Its sensor-based 5-axis stabilization helps smooth handheld footage noticeably, an impressive feature for a 2012 model.

The Panasonic FP7 only captures HD 720p at 24 fps in Motion JPEG format, limiting video quality and editing flexibility. It lacks stabilization and audio inputs, which restricts its usefulness for serious videography.

Connectivity and Modern Features

The Olympus E-M5 supports Eye-Fi wireless SD card technology for image transfer, USB 2.0, and HDMI out. While Bluetooth and NFC are absent due to its 2012 release, Eye-Fi support was ahead of its time for wireless workflow integration.

The Panasonic FP7 has no wireless options, only USB 2.0 for file transfer, reflecting its budget-friendly ultracompact nature.

Comprehensive Performance Scores and Genre Analysis

When considering aggregated performance metrics, the E-M5 scores well above in sensor quality, autofocus responsiveness, video, and build, while the FP7’s strengths lie predominantly in portability and straightforward snapshot use.

Olympus leads clearly in portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, macro, and video. Panasonic’s FP7 retains modest advantages only in street and casual travel usage due to its smaller size and convenience.

In Summary: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Having detailed the above, I’ll share recommendations based on practical user scenarios:

• Choose the Olympus OM-D E-M5 if:

  • You want a versatile, durable mirrorless with interchangeable lenses.
  • You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, macro, sports, or video seriously.
  • You appreciate manual control and extensive customization.
  • Weather sealing and solid ergonomics matter for outdoor use.
  • You can invest around $800 for a capable enthusiast-level body.

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix FP7 if:

  • Your priority is ultra-portable, pocketable convenience.
  • You need a simple point-and-shoot for casual travel or street photography.
  • Budget constraints keep you near $200.
  • Manual controls and professional image quality are secondary.
  • You shoot mostly in good lighting conditions and don’t require RAW files.

Final Thoughts from My Testing Diary

I have enjoyed shooting with both cameras in very different contexts. The Olympus E-M5 still impresses with its image quality and advanced features despite its age, reflecting the early maturity of the Micro Four Thirds system. Its ergonomics and lens options make it a joy and a powerful tool for ambitious photographers aiming for creative control.

The Panasonic FP7 feels more like a convenient snapshot companion - perfect for days when you want to travel light, capture spontaneous moments, and not fuss with settings. It won’t win accolades for image quality or speed, but it offers ease of use accessible to beginners and casual users.

Both have their place, but my experience convinces me that for serious enthusiasts or professionals looking for a manageable yet capable camera, the Olympus E-M5 remains a strong contender, especially if paired with quality lenses.

I hope this comparison has clarified the unique personalities and capabilities of these cameras. Feel free to ask me about specific use cases or lenses – my door is always open to photography discussions!

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: I hold no commercial affiliation with Olympus or Panasonic. My assessments are derived purely from hands-on testing and years of critical evaluation.