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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 front
Portability
67
Imaging
37
Features
62
Overall
47

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic FZ100
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Renewed by Panasonic FZ200
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic FZ100, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the FZ100 (14MP) is very similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FZ100 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was brought out 22 months after the FZ100 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-M5 matches up against the FZ100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FZ100

 E-M5 FZ100 
LaunchedApril 2012July 2010Newer by 22 months
Display resolution610k460kCrisper display (+150k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ100 over the Olympus E-M5

 FZ100 E-M5 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FZ100

 E-M5 FZ100 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ100 has measurements of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic FZ100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 compared to the FZ100.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and FZ100 is 81 and 67 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by reading specifications. The pic below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and FZ100.

To sum up, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Olympus E-M5 will offer extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer E-M5 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FZ100 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW files
54
has manual focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor is small (1/2.3")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography advice
Panasonic FZ100 Street photography advice
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
environment proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
58
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (540g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FZ100 Sports photography factors
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
lack of phase detect AF
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography information
Panasonic FZ100 Travel photography information
66
environment proof
boasts focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
59
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (540g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FZ100 Landscape photography information
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
lack of Time Lapse function
51
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ100
34
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of external mic port
64
pretty wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
more heavy than others in class (540g)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FZ100
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-04-30 2010-07-21
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 9.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lbs) 540 gr (1.19 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $500