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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5

Portability
81
Imaging
51
Features
70
Overall
58
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 front
Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
62
Overall
56

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic GM5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 211g - 99 x 60 x 36mm
  • Launched September 2014
  • Superseded the Panasonic GM1
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the GM5 (16MP) is very close and they use the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the GM5 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the E-M5 grades against the GM5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic GM5

 E-M5 GM5 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Panasonic GM5 over the Olympus E-M5

 GM5 E-M5 
LaunchedSeptember 2014April 2012Fresher by 28 months
Display resolution921k610kCrisper display (+311k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic GM5

 E-M5 GM5 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 comes with outside dimensions 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 GM5 has specifications of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 and the GM5.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and GM5 is 81 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizing simply by looking through specs. The photograph underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and GM5.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of files although you might want to consider the age of the cameras into account. The older E-M5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Portrait photography camera
70
has manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW files
71
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Street photography camera
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features focus by touch
weather sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
76
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes touch to focus
lighter than average (211g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GM5 Sports photography advice
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
48
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
max fps very slow (5.8 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Panasonic GM5
66
weather sealing
features focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than average (211 grams)
includes touch to focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
low battery (220 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GM5 Landscape photography factors
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
does not have Time Lapse recording
69
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery (220 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GM5 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
34
touchscreen functionality
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (211 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GM5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic GM5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-04-30 2014-09-15
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 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
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 100 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 610k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot 1,166k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/500 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 5.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 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 w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 211 grams (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 99 x 60 x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 66
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 11.7
DXO Low light score 826 721
Other
Battery life 360 photos 220 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 DMW-BLH7
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $966