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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
54
Overall
50

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 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 GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PM1 (12MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM1 was revealed 4 months earlier than the GF5 and they are of a similar generation. Both cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-PM1 matches up against the GF5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Panasonic GF5

 E-PM1 GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-PM1

 GF5 E-PM1 
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF5

 E-PM1 GF5 
RevealedNovember 2011April 2012Similar generation
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM1 features exterior measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF5 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM1 and the GF5.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM1 and GF5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor dimensions merely by looking at technical specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM1 and GF5.

As you can tell, both cameras feature the identical sensor size and the identical megapixels and you should expect similar quality of images although you should always factor the production date of the products into consideration.

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography advice
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
55
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Street photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Street photography advice
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports touch focus
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
no phase detect AF
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography advice
45
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
61
supports touch focus
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GF5 Landscape photography features
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
59
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging details
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging details
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
32
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM1 and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus PEN E-PM1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-11-23 2012-04-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 160
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 265 grams (0.58 pounds) 267 grams (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 50
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 20.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 10.0
DXO Low light score 499 573
Other
Battery life 330 shots 360 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $499 $600