Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung GX-20: A Hands-On Comparison of Vintage Mirrorless vs DSLR Charm

When nostalgia meets today’s digital photography enthusiasts, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Samsung GX-20 often pop up in discussions as intriguing options. Released just a few years apart, these two advanced cameras highlight the crossroads of evolving camera technologies - mirrorless versus DSLR, Micro Four Thirds versus APS-C sensor, compact styling versus traditional heft. I’ve had my hands on both extensively and today we’re diving deep into how these cameras stack against one another across various photography disciplines, technical specifications, and real-world performance. Whether you're a portrait lover, wild adventurer, or video hobbyist, this comparison will help you make an informed call.

Size, Handling & Ergonomics – The Feel of the Falcon vs the Marvel

First impressions matter, and you can tell a lot just by holding a camera. The Olympus E-M5 packs a compact SLR-style mirrorless body, while the Samsung GX-20 wears its DSLR mid-sized frame with pride.

At 122 x 89 x 43 mm and tipping the scales at a featherlight 425g, the E-M5 is a nimble companion. The GX-20, by contrast, is significantly bulkier (142 x 101 x 72 mm) and heavier at 800g - nearly double! This impacts portability and hand fatigue during long shoots. The E-M5’s smaller form factor excels for travel and street photographers who prize discretion and light packing.

Handling-wise, the E-M5 employs a modern tilting 3-inch OLED touchscreen with capacitive touch control, making menu navigation and focus point selection quicker and more intuitive. The Samsung sticks to a more traditional 2.7-inch fixed, non-touch LCD, which, together with its optical pentaprism viewfinder, will appeal to DSLR purists who prefer an optical look through the lens.

The Olympus’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) boasts 1440k dots with 100% coverage and a 0.58x magnification - quite respectable for its class. Meanwhile, the Samsung’s optical finder offers 95% coverage and a 0.64x magnification, but without any electronic overlays. That means no digital real-time previews or histograms inside the viewfinder - something the modern E-M5 offers that can boost shooting confidence.

Here’s another glance at their top-mounted controls, showing the minimalist but effective dials on the E-M5 versus Samsung’s more traditional DSLR layout.

As a user, I found the E-M5’s buttons a bit small but thoughtfully arranged, while the GX-20’s buttons feel more tactile and spaced out - a boon for gloved hands or colder environments.

Sensor Size, Image Quality & Dynamic Range: The Heart of the Matter

Image quality boils down to sensor technology, resolution, and processing prowess. Here’s a side-by-side look at the core sensor specs.

The Samsung GX-20 sports a larger APS-C sensor measuring 23.4 x 15.6 mm with 15 megapixels, while the Olympus E-M5 uses a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor at 17.3 x 13 mm but squeezes out 16 megapixels. The APS-C sensor's roughly 365 mm² area gives it a distinct edge in light-gathering capability - almost 62% larger than Olympus’s 225 mm² sensor.

This larger sensor translates into better noise performance at higher ISOs and improved dynamic range, which directly affects your ability to capture details in shadows and highlights - especially important for landscape and night photography.

Looking at DxO Mark scores as an objective benchmark, the Olympus earns an overall 71 points with a color depth of 22.8 bits and dynamic range of 12.3 stops. The Samsung GX-20 follows closely with 68 points overall, slightly better color depth at 23.1 bits but a more limited dynamic range of 11.2 stops. Low-light ISO performance favors the Olympus (ISO 826 score vs Samsung’s 714), most likely due to its newer TruePic VI processor and refined sensor.

In practice, my test shots showed the Olympus exhibits cleaner shadows and retains highlight details better when pulling exposure in post-processing. The Samsung's APS-C sensor fidelity shines in well-lit scenes with subtle tonal gradations but struggles under dim lighting and higher ISO settings with more prominent noise.

The Rear Screen & User Interface - Touch or No Touch?

Arguably, the screen interface significantly affects user experience, especially with live view and manual focusing.

The Olympus’s 3-inch tilting OLED touchscreen is a delight for framing unusual angles (hello, low-to-the-ground macro or overhead street shots) and offers a responsive touch UI, which can be toggled off for those who prefer traditional button-based adjustments. The AMOLED quality guarantees richer blacks and vivid colors, aiding image review and menu reading outdoors.

Samsung’s 2.7-inch fixed LCD is a workhorse by comparison - decent in good lighting but with a modest 230k-dot resolution and no touchscreen. While acceptable for the time it was launched, it feels dated when trying to assess fine detail or predict exposure accurately.

For video and live view shooting, Olympus’s screen usability eclipses Samsung's fixed panel, highlighting the advances in mirrorless usability.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Tracking & Precision

Autofocus performance can be make-or-break depending on your shooting style, so here’s where theory meets practice.

The Olympus E-M5 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system with 35 focus points and face detection - pretty advanced for its era. It supports continuous autofocus, tracking, live view focusing, and has touch-to-focus on the screen.

Samsung GX-20, as a DSLR, uses phase-detection autofocus with 11 focus points but no face detection or live view AF. Autofocus speed on the GX-20 is generally reliable but feels sluggish compared to more modern mirrorless counterparts, especially in live view mode, which is essentially unusable for quick AF.

In wildlife or sports scenarios, the Olympus’s 9 fps burst rate combined with its continuous autofocus and tracking modes gave it the upper hand in locking focus on erratic subjects. The Samsung manages only 3 fps and lacks focus tracking, making it better suited for deliberate compositions or slower subjects.

While face detection is invaluable for portrait and event shooters today, neither camera offers animal eye autofocus, a feature that’s become standard in recent releases but was understandably absent here.

Weather Sealing and Build Quality: Can They Brave the Elements?

Both cameras carry some environmental sealing, but they're not waterproof or built to extreme standards. The Olympus boasts more extensive weather sealing relative to its compactness, marketed towards on-the-go enthusiasts who might find themselves photographing in inclement weather. The Samsung’s older DSLR design is also equipped with some resistance but feels a bit less confident when raining or dusty.

For adventure photographers, neither camera replaces high-end pro bodies or rugged compacts like the Nikon D500 or Olympus Tough series. Still, for casual urban exploration under light rain or dust, both are serviceable.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Choosing Your Glass

Lens options matter since the quality of your lenses often dictates the quality of your photos.

The Olympus E-M5 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount and has access to a broad, well-established library of over 100 lenses (zoom, prime, macro, tilt-shift from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties like Sigma and Voigtländer). This system is mature, flexible, and special lenses tend to be compact and affordable.

The Samsung GX-20 employs the Pentax KAF2 mount, compatible with upwards of 150 Pentax lenses, including some exceptional old-school primes and modern optics. K-mount glass has a rich history, offering affordable vintage lenses that can yield unique artistic results. However, autofocus compatibility and advanced features vary with older lenses.

If you favor modern, lightweight zooms and autofocus performance, Olympus’s MFT system wins out. For lens hobbyists who can tolerate a bit of manual focusing and want a broader selection of classic glass, Samsung's mount remains appealing.

Battery Life and Storage - How Long Can You Shoot?

Battery life is always an essential practical metric. The Olympus E-M5 uses the BLN-1 battery with a CIPA-rated 360 shots per charge - respectable, but the usual mirrorless caveats apply; live view and EVF usage drain power faster than optical viewfinders.

Samsung GX-20 specs are less clear on battery life, but expect DSLRs’ typical endurance to surpass mirrorless - sometimes upwards of 500-600 shots per charge with an optical viewfinder party favoring energy savings.

Storage-wise, both cameras accept SD cards, with Olympus ready for SD/SDHC/SDXC and Samsung compatible with SD/SDHC and also MMC cards, which are now more niche. Neither supports dual card slots, so be mindful on longer shoots or professional applications.

Shooting Styles and Genre-Specific Performance

How do these cameras perform across different photography disciplines? I put them through the ringer to find out.

Portrait Photography

Both cameras can yield pleasing skin tones, but the Olympus E-M5’s face-detection AF, better high ISO noise control, and smoother bokeh from MFT primes give it a slight edge. The real-time histogram and exposure previews in EVF help nail exposure perfectly on tricky skin tones. Samsung’s APS-C sensor naturally renders slightly shallower depth of field at comparable apertures, which can be artistically valuable but requires deliberate focusing given the lack of face detection.

Landscape Photography

The Olympus, with its excellent dynamic range and sensor stabilization, is a great travel companion for landscapes, especially since the tilting screen aids low-angle compositions. The Samsung’s higher megapixel resolution and larger sensor can produce sharper, richly detailed images, provided you shoot at base ISO and have good lighting. Beware that Samsung's lower max ISO and narrower DR mean you’ll want to bracket exposures or shoot RAW and blend exposures more often.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Olympus’s faster 9 fps burst, continuous AF with tracking, and lighter weight make it more practical for tracking fast-moving subjects and long handheld sessions. Samsung’s slow 3 fps and less developed AF system restrict rapid action shooting but the big DSLR grip could lend stability for telephoto lenses. Overall, Olympus wins for action zoom enthusiasts.

Street Photography

Compactness and discretion count here. The Olympus’s smaller footprint and quieter operation make it a stealthy choice. Its tilting touchscreen lets you shoot discreetly from the hip or awkward angles. The Samsung GX-20, while rugged, is bulkier and less stealthy but offers that classic DSLR experience with an optical finder - ideal if you enjoy manual controls and don’t mind stand-out gear.

Macro Photography

The Olympus’s 5-axis stabilization and responsive touch focus make close focusing easier and steadier. The MFT system offers many high-quality, compact macro lenses tailored for finely detailed work. The Samsung supports macro lenses as well but lacks sensor-based stabilization, meaning a tripod becomes more or less mandatory for sharp close-ups.

Night and Astro Photography

Olympus’s better high ISO performance and electronic shutter options allow for quieter, more flexible night shooting. The wider dynamic range aids star field detail and subtle exposures. Samsung’s APS-C sensor, while larger, has a lower max native ISO and lacks electronic shutter, limiting long exposure capabilities and noiseless shooting.

Video Capabilities

Olympus supports Full HD 1080p at 60 fps, while Samsung offers no video recording. This is a critical deciding factor for videographers. Lack of mic/headphone jacks on Olympus may frustrate advanced users, but its in-body stabilization improves handheld footage. Samsung’s legacy DSLR design predated video integration, so it’s strictly a photo-focused tool.

Travel Photography

The lightweight, weather-sealed Olympus with longer battery life and compact lens options feels ideal for travel photographers. The GX-20, while durable, adds bulk and weight, limiting rapid mobility. Olympus’s wireless Eye-Fi support (albeit early generation) allows some image sharing on the go, unlike Samsung’s unconnected setup.

Professional Use

Neither camera ranks as a full professional workhorse by today’s standards, but Olympus’s advanced automation, RAW support, and integration with newer workflow software make it a better choice for semi-pro or enthusiast photographers on a budget. Samsung’s superior file formats and robust body appeal to those who prioritize classic DSLR aspects in controlled environments.

Olympus E M5 front Olympus E M5 screen back Samsung GX 20 front Samsung GX 20 screen back

Here’s a gallery of sample images covering portrait, landscape, macro, and street photos from both cameras. Look closely at noise, dynamic range, and color rendition to see how theory translates to results.

Connectivity and Modern Conveniences

The Olympus E-M5 includes Eye-Fi wireless support (a bit dated now but useful for early wireless SD cards), USB 2.0, and HDMI output making tethering and external monitor use more feasible. Samsung lacks wireless features and HDMI, relying solely on USB 2.0 connectivity for transfers.

Pricing, Value, and Final Scorecards

Given their age, price can vary widely on the secondhand market. Olympus E-M5 original MSRP was $799, Samsung GX-20 was around $850. Adjusted for their capabilities, Olympus generally offers more bang for the buck due to updated tech, video, and better autofocus.

Here’s a summary scoring overview from lab and field tests, illustrating Olympus’s lead in autofocus and low-light performance, while Samsung holds steady in color depth and build.

Also, note specialized genre scoring where Olympus excels in video, low light, and wildlife photography, and Samsung gains marks in image detail and traditional DSLR handling.

Who Should Choose the Olympus OM-D E-M5?

If you cherish lightweight gear, intuitive touch controls, robust autofocus, in-body image stabilization, and video capability - the Olympus E-M5 stands out as the better all-around performer. Portrait photographers will appreciate its face detection and pleasing color science. Landscape and travel shooters benefit from the dynamic range and compact system. Wildlife and sports enthusiasts will like the burst shooting and tracking. Its Micro Four Thirds mount offers a versatile lens system perfect for enthusiasts expanding their kit.

Who Is Still Mightily Served by the Samsung GX-20?

If your heart beats for traditional DSLR craftsmanship, optical viewfinder purity, compatibility with an extensive Pentax lens library (especially vintage glass), and you prioritize purely photographic discipline without video distraction, the Samsung GX-20 remains a reliable workhorse. Its larger sensor pays dividends in resolution and color depth under ideal lighting, making it a solid choice for studio or nature photography where burst rate and autofocus tracking are less critical.

Final Thoughts from the Field

Having spent weeks using these cameras in parallel - from chasing birds at dawn to shooting families in dim living rooms - I can say both bring character and capability to the table, though modern sensibilities draw us more readily to the Olympus E-M5. Its forward-thinking design and feature set still hold up remarkably well for a 2012 camera. The Samsung GX-20, despite being older, isn’t obsolete and will reward photographers who like to slow down and savor the tactile vintage DSLR experience.

In the end, it comes down to your shooting style, feature priorities, and how you feel when the camera clicks in your hand. Both cameras have taught me lessons on evolution in camera design and photography philosophy, showcasing how much magic we can squeeze from different technologies.

Happy shooting, whichever path you choose!

Article images used with kind permission.

If you have specific shooting preferences or want to know how these cameras stack against modern rivals, drop a line! I’m always thrilled to geek out on camera tech.