Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic XS1

Following is a complete review of the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic XS1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the XS1 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and XS1 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 was revealed 8 months prior to the XS1 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic XS1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-M5 matches up against the XS1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-M5 Gallery and Panasonic XS1 Gallery.

If you are going to carry around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 has external 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) while the Panasonic XS1 has sizing of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6") with a weight of 103 grams (0.23 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 and Panasonic XS1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 versus the XS1.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and XS1 is 81 and 97 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out specifications. The picture underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and XS1.

To sum up, both of the cameras come with the identical MP albeit different sensor sizes. The E-M5 has the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field easier. The more aged E-M5 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.