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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FS12, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was unveiled 3 years after the FS12 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-M5 matches up against the FS12 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FS12

 E-M5 FS12 
AnnouncedApril 2012April 2009Newer by 37 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kCrisper display (+380k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-M5

 FS12 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FS12

 E-M5 FS12 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 has got exterior measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS12 has proportions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FS12 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 against the FS12.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and FS12 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by seeing specs. The image underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and FS12.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M5 will produce extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography information
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography advice
Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
82
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
environment sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
lacks phase detect auto focus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Panasonic FS12
66
environment sealing
comes with touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
lack of Time Lapse function
28
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
34
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of mic socket
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2012-04-30 2009-04-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
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 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest 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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
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 lbs) 129 grams (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photographs -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch $799 $228