Clicky

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 front
Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic FZ2500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • 24-480mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 915g - 138 x 102 x 135mm
  • Announced September 2016
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ2000
  • Replaced the Panasonic FZ1000
Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the FZ2500 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FZ2500 (1") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

The E-M5 was manufactured 5 years before the FZ2500 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ2500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 scores vs the FZ2500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FZ2500

 E-M5 FZ2500 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ2500 over the Olympus E-M5

 FZ2500 E-M5 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016April 2012More modern by 53 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k610kSharper screen (+430k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FZ2500

 E-M5 FZ2500 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys 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) and the Panasonic FZ2500 has specifications of 138mm x 102mm x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3") and a weight of 915 grams (2.02 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 compared to the FZ2500.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and FZ2500 is 81 and 53 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The pic below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and FZ2500.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FZ2500 will resolve extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FZ2500 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
71
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
Panasonic FZ2500 Street photography details
82
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts touch focus
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
70
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
features touch focus
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ2500
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
has no phase detect AF
69
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ2500
66
weather sealing
boasts touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
no Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
66
features touch focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FZ2500 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
no Timelapse mode
65
manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Panasonic FZ2500
34
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no microphone port
66
decently wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external microphone port
slow max aperture (f2.8)
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ2500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FZ2500
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FZ2000
Type Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-04-30 2016-09-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-4.5
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 610k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs -
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) 4096 x 2060 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425g (0.94 pounds) 915g (2.02 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 138 x 102 x 135mm (5.4" x 4.0" x 5.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 70
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.6
DXO Low light score 826 538
Other
Battery life 360 shots 350 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 DMW-BLC12
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $998