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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II front
Portability
55
Imaging
54
Features
82
Overall
65

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Key Specs

Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic FZ1000 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-400mm (F2.8-4.0) lens
  • 808g - 136 x 97 x 132mm
  • Launched February 2019
  • Superseded the Panasonic FZ1000
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic FZ1000 II, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and FZ1000 II (20MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FZ1000 II (1") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM1 was unveiled 8 years earlier than the FZ1000 II and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FZ1000 II being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PM1 scores against the FZ1000 II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic FZ1000 II

 E-PM1 FZ1000 II 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ1000 II over the Olympus E-PM1

 FZ1000 II E-PM1 
LaunchedFebruary 2019November 2011Fresher by 88 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1240k460kCrisper screen (+780k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FZ1000 II

 E-PM1 FZ1000 II 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 provides physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic FZ1000 II has proportions of 136mm x 97mm x 132mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 5.2") accompanied by a weight of 808 grams (1.78 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic FZ1000 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the FZ1000 II.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and FZ1000 II is 89 and 55 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The visual underneath may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and FZ1000 II.

Clearly, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 using its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic FZ1000 II will produce more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older E-PM1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FZ1000 II Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
72
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography features
Panasonic FZ1000 II Street photography features
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
71
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
includes touch focus
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Panasonic FZ1000 II Sports photography details
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
69
amazing zoom range (25-400mm 16.0 x zoom)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes tracking focus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FZ1000 II Travel photography highlights
45
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
67
has bluetooth
includes touch focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (400mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM1
Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ1000 II
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
missing Time Lapse function
65
has manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FZ1000 II Vlogging advice
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing mic support
67
rather wide (25mm)
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FZ1000 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FZ1000 II
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-11-23 2019-02-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-400mm (16.0x)
Largest aperture - f/2.8-4.0
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 1,240 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 13.50 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, 1st / 2nd Slow Sync.
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840x2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p) 1280x720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 808 grams (1.78 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 136 x 97 x 132mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 5.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos 350 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 DMW-BLC12PP
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported)
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $499 $898