Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FH6

The following is a in depth overview of the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic FH6, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the FH6 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FH6 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM1 was brought out within a month of the FH6 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH6 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-PM1 scores against the FH6 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6. The entire galleries are viewable at Olympus E-PM1 Gallery and Panasonic FH6 Gallery.

If you're going to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM1 provides outside measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic FH6 has dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic FH6 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the E-PM1 against the FH6.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and FH6 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions purely by checking a spec sheet. The pic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and FH6.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 because of its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic FH6 will give greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a little more aggressively.