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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
29
Overall
32

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 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
  • Launched November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
Panasonic FX580
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FX550
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic FX580, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the FX580 (12MP) is pretty similar but the E-PM1 (Four Thirds) and FX580 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM1 was unveiled 2 years after the FX580 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX580 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-PM1 scores versus the FX580 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic FX580

 E-PM1 FX580 
LaunchedNovember 2011January 2009More modern by 35 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX580 over the Olympus E-PM1

 FX580 E-PM1 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FX580

 E-PM1 FX580 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM1 enjoys outer 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 FX580 has sizing of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-PM1 versus Panasonic FX580 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PM1 compared to the FX580.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM1 and FX580 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes only by reviewing specifications. The image below might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM1 and FX580.

To sum up, both of these cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PM1 includes the bigger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh easier. The younger E-PM1 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM1
Portrait photography with Panasonic FX580
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
26
supports face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography advice
Panasonic FX580 Street photography advice
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FX580 Sports photography factors
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
Panasonic FX580 Travel photography information
45
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
58
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FX580 Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
no Time Lapse recording
36
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM1
Vlogging with Panasonic FX580
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no external mic support
30
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic FX580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic FX580
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FX550
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-11-23 2009-01-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 6.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 gr (0.58 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" 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 style 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
Price at release $499 $499