Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FH5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the E-PM1 (12MP) and FH5 (16MP) and the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM1 was revealed 11 months later than the FH5 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the E-PM1 matches up vs the FH5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5. The full galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery and Panasonic FH5 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 provides outside 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 FH5 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FH5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-PM1 versus the FH5.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and FH5 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM1 and FH5.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PM1 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic FH5 will resolve greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer E-PM1 provides an edge in sensor innovation.