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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic FS7
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 139g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and FS7 (10MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FS7 (1/2.5") feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was manufactured 3 years later than the FS7 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-M5 matches up against the FS7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FS7

 E-M5 FS7 
IntroducedApril 2012January 2009Fresher by 40 months
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kSharper display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS7 over the Olympus E-M5

 FS7 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FS7

 E-M5 FS7 
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 has got outer dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic FS7 has measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 139 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 compared to the FS7.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and FS7 is 81 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The visual here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and FS7.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M5 will render extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS7
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW files
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS7 as a Street photography camera
82
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has touch focus
environment proof
very good ISO range (25,600)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS7 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
lack of phase detect AF
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Panasonic FS7 Travel photography features
66
environment proof
has touch focus
resolution is good (16MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FS7 Landscape photography features
73
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging details
Panasonic FS7 Vlogging details
34
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FS7
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS7
Category Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2012-04-30 2009-01-16
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 6.3
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 610 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 gr (0.94 lbs) 139 gr (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 photos -
Type of battery 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/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $799 $160