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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2

Portability
81 Imaging
52 Features
70 Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
Portability
70 Imaging
51 Features
65 Overall
56

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 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
  • Announced April 2012
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH1
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH3
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the GH2 (16MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was brought out 14 months later than the GH2 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M5 scores vs the GH2 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic GH2

		

		

			
 E-M5 GH2 
AnnouncedApril 2012March 2011More recent by 14 months
Screen resolution610k460kClearer screen (+150k dot)
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Olympus E-M5

		

		

			
 GH2 E-M5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen  Take selfies
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic GH2

		

		

			
 E-M5 GH2 
Manual focus  Very exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Touch friendly screen  Quickly navigate
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
When you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 has 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) and the Panasonic GH2 has sizing of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") along with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs).
See the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 versus the GH2.
Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 size comparison
Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and GH2 is 81 and 70 respectively.
Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Oftentimes, it is hard to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by checking a spec sheet. The visual underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and GH2.
Clearly, the 2 cameras provide the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels and you can expect similar quality of photographs however you should factor the launch date  of the products into consideration. The more recent E-M5 will have an edge in sensor innovation.
	
			Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography factors
71
 has manual focus
 sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
 decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
 includes face detect focusing
 delivers RAW formats
70
 manual focus
 decent MP (16 megapixels)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 provides face detect autofocus
 saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison
Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
Panasonic GH2 Street photography details
82
 tilting screen
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
 delivers RAW formats
 includes focus by touch
 weather proofing
 very good high ISO (25,600)
68
 screen can move to multiple angles
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 saves RAW formats
 does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary
Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Panasonic GH2
67
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
 decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
 includes tracking focus
 weather proofing
 no phase detect AF
46
 decent MP (16MP)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 provides tracking focus
 max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
 does not have image stabilization
 bad battery (330 shots)
 lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison
Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Panasonic GH2 Travel photography features
66
 weather proofing
 includes focus by touch
 sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
 doesn't have Timelapse recording
 screen is not selfie friendly
62
 decent MP (16 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 selfie friendly display
 lack of Time Lapse function
 bad battery (330 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography highlights
73
 has manual focus
 change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 decent sized screen (3")
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
 decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
 very good high ISO (25,600)
 delivers RAW formats
 weather proofing
 doesn't have Timelapse recording
60
 manual focus
 swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 screen is a decent size (3")
 decent MP (16 megapixels)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 saves RAW formats
 does not have image stabilization
 bad battery (330 per charge)
 lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-M5 Vlogging info
Panasonic GH2 Vlogging info
34
 screen is touchscreen
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 includes face detect focusing
 great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 doesn't have microphone port
71
 selfie friendly display
 touchscreen capability
 provides face detect autofocus
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 includes mic port
 does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH2 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic GH2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2012-04-30 2011-03-23
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias 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 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 160
RAW support    
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch focus    
Autofocus continuous    
Autofocus single    
Autofocus tracking    
Autofocus selectice    
Autofocus center weighted    
Multi area autofocus    
Live view autofocus    
Face detection autofocus    
Contract detection autofocus    
Phase detection autofocus    
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Expose Manually    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance no built-in flash 15.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic jack    
Headphone jack    
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 proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 442 gr (0.97 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 60
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.3
DXO Low light rating 826 655
Other
Battery life 360 shots 330 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack 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/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $799 $1,000