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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 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
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic FP5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 141g - 101 x 59 x 18mm
  • Launched January 2011
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 Overview

The following is a extended review of the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the FP5 (14MP) is very well matched but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FP5 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM1 was released 11 months after the FP5 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP5 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PM1 scores against the FP5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic FP5

 E-PM1 FP5 
LaunchedNovember 2011January 2011Newer by 11 months
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP5 over the Olympus E-PM1

 FP5 E-PM1 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FP5

 E-PM1 FP5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM1 features exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Panasonic FP5 has measurements of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PM1 versus the FP5.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM1 and FP5 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through specifications. The pic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and FP5.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic FP5 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more modern E-PM1 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Panasonic FP5
60
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography information
Panasonic FP5 Street photography information
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
63
image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FP5 Sports photography factors
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
has no phase detect AF
43
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes tracking focus
great battery pack (260 CIPA)
slow fps (6.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography features
Panasonic FP5 Travel photography features
45
does not have Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
65
great battery pack (260 CIPA)
has touch to focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FP5 Landscape photography details
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
40
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
great battery pack (260 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Panasonic FP5
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have external mic socket
30
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FP5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FP5
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2011-11-23 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35-140mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Touch Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 lb) 141 grams (0.31 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 101 x 59 x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7")
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 260 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $499 $199