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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
66
Overall
58

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 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
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic GF7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF6
  • Successor is Panasonic GF8
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 Overview

Here is a detailed analysis of the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic GF7, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the GF7 (16MP) is relatively similar and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was released 3 years prior to the GF7 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-M5 grades versus the GF7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic GF7

 E-M5 GF7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF7 over the Olympus E-M5

 GF7 E-M5 
RevealedFebruary 2015April 2012Fresher by 33 months
Screen resolution1040k610kCrisper screen (+430k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic GF7

 E-M5 GF7 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic GF7 has dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 versus Panasonic GF7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 against the GF7.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and GF7 is 81 and 90 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizing only by reading a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and GF7.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size and the exact same resolution and you can expect similar quality of images though you have to take the launch date of the products into consideration. The older E-M5 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF7
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
65
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
Panasonic GF7 Street photography details
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF7 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
does not have phase detect AF
52
maximum shutter speed is high (1/16,000s)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.8 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF7 Travel photography advice
66
weather sealing
boasts focus by touch
good megapixels (16MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
70
offers focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Panasonic GF7 Landscape photography info
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
lack of Timelapse mode
69
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
Panasonic GF7 Vlogging features
34
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
33
screen is touchscreen
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GF7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic GF7
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-04-30 2015-02-01
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 5.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
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 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 266 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
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 photos 230 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $799 $308