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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 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
  • Released November 2011
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • 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-FS18
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic FH5

 E-PM1 FH5 
IntroducedNovember 2011January 2011Fresher by 11 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus E-PM1

 FH5 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FH5

 E-PM1 FH5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography highlights
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FH5 Street photography highlights
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than average (121 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low MP (12MP)
has no phase detect AF
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography info
Panasonic FH5 Travel photography info
45
no Time Lapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
71
lighter than average (121 grams)
comes with focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography details
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
low MP (12MP)
no Time Lapse recording
38
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging features
Panasonic FH5 Vlogging features
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no external mic support
33
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
lighter than average (121g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-11-23 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 lbs) 121 grams (0.27 lbs)
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 shots 260 shots
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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $499 $169