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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47

Portability
81
Imaging
51
Features
70
Overall
58
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 front
Portability
68
Imaging
35
Features
45
Overall
39

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 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 FZ47
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 498g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FZ48
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic FZ47, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and FZ47 (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and FZ47 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was brought out 10 months later than the FZ47 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ47 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-M5 grades against the FZ47 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic FZ47

 E-M5 FZ47 
ReleasedApril 2012July 2011More recent by 10 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k460kClearer display (+150k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ47 over the Olympus E-M5

 FZ47 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FZ47

 E-M5 FZ47 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic FZ47 has sizing of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") along with a weight of 498 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic FZ47 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 against the FZ47.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and FZ47 is 81 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and FZ47.

As you can tell, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will give extra detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Panasonic FZ47
70
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
38
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
features face detection focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FZ47 as a Street photography camera
82
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
weather proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
43
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than others in class (498g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography information
Panasonic FZ47 Sports photography information
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
does not have phase detect AF
42
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking autofocus
great battery power (400 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Panasonic FZ47
66
weather proofing
has touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
51
great battery power (400 per charge)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (498g)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FZ47 Landscape photography advice
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
lack of Time Lapse recording
43
you can focus manually
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
great battery power (400 CIPA)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
Panasonic FZ47 Vlogging features
34
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
27
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (498g)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic FZ47 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic FZ47
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FZ48
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-04-30 2011-07-21
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 610k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 498 gr (1.10 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photographs 400 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $799 $379