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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
55
Overall
44

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Panasonic LF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Bump to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-200mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 192g - 103 x 62 x 28mm
  • Introduced November 2013
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic LF1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and LF1 (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and LF1 (1/1.7") use different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was manufactured 19 months prior to the LF1 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LF1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-M5 scores vs the LF1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Panasonic LF1

 E-M5 LF1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LF1 over the Olympus E-M5

 LF1 E-M5 
IntroducedNovember 2013April 2012Newer by 19 months
Screen resolution920k610kSharper screen (+310k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic LF1

 E-M5 LF1 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with outer dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LF1 has dimensions of 103mm x 62mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic LF1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 vs the LF1.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and LF1 is 81 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The pic below might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and LF1.

Clearly, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will render greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Panasonic LF1
71
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
42
focusing manually
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography factors
Panasonic LF1 Street photography factors
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus by touch
environment proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LF1 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
lack of phase detect auto focus
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LF1 as a Travel photography camera
66
environment proofing
has focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
64
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Panasonic LF1
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
missing Timelapse function
54
focusing manually
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Panasonic LF1
34
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone jack
36
decently wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LF1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic LF1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-04-30 2013-11-26
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 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 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-200mm (7.1x)
Largest aperture - f/2.0-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 610 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 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 synchronize 1/250s -
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 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 192 gr (0.42 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 103 x 62 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 52
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 20.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.6
DXO Low light rating 826 211
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 250 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $799 $500