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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 front
Portability
59
Imaging
60
Features
89
Overall
71

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic GH5
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 725g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Launched January 2017
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH4
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH5 II
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the GH5 (20MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was unveiled 5 years before the GH5 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-M5 matches up against the GH5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic GH5

 E-M5 GH5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5 over the Olympus E-M5

 GH5 E-M5 
LaunchedJanuary 2017April 2012More modern by 57 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display size3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1620k610kClearer display (+1010k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic GH5

 E-M5 GH5 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 features outside dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH5 has sizing of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") along with a weight of 725 grams (1.60 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 compared to the GH5.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and GH5 is 81 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by reading through specifications. The pic below will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and GH5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but different MP. You can expect to see the Panasonic GH5 to give you extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic GH5 Portrait photography advice
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
76
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography information
Panasonic GH5 Street photography information
82
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
environment proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
74
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography info
Panasonic GH5 Sports photography info
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
68
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
terrible battery power (410 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH5 as a Travel photography camera
66
environment proofing
features touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
68
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
includes focus via touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
terrible battery power (410 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH5
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
missing Time Lapse function
75
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
terrible battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging information
Panasonic GH5 Vlogging information
34
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic port
75
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic GH5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2012-04-30 2017-01-04
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 225
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of screen 610k dots 1,620k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots 3,680k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.76x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Redeye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On w/Redeye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Redeye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 pounds) 725 grams (1.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 77
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 826 807
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 410 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs; 10 secs w/3 shots)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single Dual
Launch cost $799 $1,298