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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 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
  • Successor is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FX40
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic FX48, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the FX48 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FX48 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-PM1 was announced 2 years after the FX48 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the E-PM1 grades versus the FX48 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic FX48

 E-PM1 FX48 
LaunchedNovember 2011January 2009Newer by 35 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Olympus E-PM1

 FX48 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FX48

 E-PM1 FX48 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera often, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 has exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic FX48 has proportions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic FX48 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the E-PM1 against the FX48.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and FX48 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out specs. The image underneath will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and FX48.

All in all, both of the cameras posses the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The E-PM1 includes the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF less difficult. The fresher E-PM1 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
27
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography info
Panasonic FX48 Street photography info
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography details
Panasonic FX48 Sports photography details
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
has no phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography details
Panasonic FX48 Travel photography details
45
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
58
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FX48 Landscape photography advice
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
MP count low (12MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FX48 Vlogging factors
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX48 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FX48
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FX40
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-11-23 2009-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/3000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 6.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 gr (0.58 pounds) 150 gr (0.33 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 499 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $499 $325