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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
Panasonic FH2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS16
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH2, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PL5 (16MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is fairly comparable but the E-PL5 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PL5 was brought out 21 months later than the FH2 making them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-PL5 scores versus the FH2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-PL5 FH2 
IntroducedSeptember 2012January 2011Fresher by 21 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-PL5

 FH2 E-PL5 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH2

 E-PL5 FH2 

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL5 provides external dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) and the Panasonic FH2 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-PL5 compared to the FH2.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL5 and FH2 is 88 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing only by checking out specs. The photograph below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PL5 and FH2.

All in all, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PL5 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PL5 will provide extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-PL5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PL5
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH2
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
33
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch to focus
good high ISO (25,600)
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography factors
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery power (270 CIPA)
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Travel photography camera
75
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
72
good battery power (270 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
offers touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH2 Landscape photography info
74
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
41
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
good battery power (270 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL5
Vlogging with Panasonic FH2
78
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
32
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors (121 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-PL5 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL5 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus PEN E-PL5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PL5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-FS16
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-09-17 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 325 gr (0.72 pounds) 121 gr (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 889 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 images 270 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $400 $149