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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 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
  • Revealed November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
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
  • Released January 2011
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS16
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FH2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the FH2 (14MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FH2 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-PM1 was manufactured 11 months after the FH2 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH2 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-PM1 matches up against the FH2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic FH2

 E-PM1 FH2 
ReleasedNovember 2011January 2011Newer by 11 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH2 over the Olympus E-PM1

 FH2 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FH2

 E-PM1 FH2 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 comes with external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Panasonic FH2 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FH2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PM1 and the FH2.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and FH2 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by checking specifications. The picture here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM1 and FH2.

Plainly, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FH2 will give more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-PM1 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH2 Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
33
decent MP (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography features
Panasonic FH2 Street photography features
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
67
image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus by touch
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FH2 Sports photography advice
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
43
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery power (270 per charge)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Travel photography camera
45
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
72
good battery power (270 per charge)
lighter than others in class (121g)
supports focus by touch
decent MP (14MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
no Timelapse recording
41
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
good battery power (270 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH2 as a Vlogging camera
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no microphone support
32
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than others in class (121 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FH2
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH2
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FS16
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-11-23 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 121 grams (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 270 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $499 $149