Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic LX100: A Hands-On Comparison for Discerning Photographers

Choosing between two well-regarded Micro Four Thirds cameras like the Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Panasonic Lumix LX100 is no trivial task. Each model offers unique strengths and caters to subtle differences in photographic style and priorities. Having extensively tested and compared scores of mirrorless and compact cameras over the last 15 years, I’m excited to share an in-depth, no-holds-barred take on how these two fare head-to-head.

With both cameras sporting a Four Thirds sensor form factor but designed with very different user experiences in mind, this comparison unfolds across ergonomics, sensor tech, autofocus, handling, optics, and much more - helping you decide which suits your photographic lifestyle best.

Getting Comfortable with Size and Feel: Which One Fits Your Hands?

Ergonomics and physical handling are critical for how comfortably and intuitively you’ll shoot day after day. The Olympus E-PM1 is a classic rangefinder-style mirrorless that weighs just 265g and measures a compact 110x64x34mm - truly pocket-friendly and light. In contrast, the Panasonic LX100 is chunkier, around 393g with bulkier dimensions of 115x66x55mm, typical of a high-end large sensor compact camera packing a fixed zoom lens.

Olympus E-PM1 impresses with minimalism and portability. Its lightweight body is ideal for street photographers or travelers aiming for discretion. However, that slim chassis translates into modest grip comfort, especially if you shoot extensively with larger lenses.

Panasonic LX100, meanwhile, boasts a robust grip despite its compact label, aided by the built-in zoom mechanism and carefully placed control dials. Its layered design somewhat resembles a traditional DSLR or prosumer mirrorless, which can be reassuring if you prioritize tactile feedback and solid handling over ultra-lightweight travel.

If you prize minimal gear that disappears in your bag or hand, the E-PM1 wins. For a more confident hold and better balance with longer zoom work, the LX100 steps ahead - a trade-off you trade weight for. The choice here depends largely on your shooting context.

Visual Command Centers: Screen and Viewfinder Experience

Comfortable framing and reviewing your shots hinge on display quality and eye relief. Both cameras sport fixed 3-inch screens, but there are significant differences.

The Olympus E-PM1 comes with a 460k-dot HyperCrystal LCD with an anti-reflective coating, which is decent for bright outdoor use though the resolution feels dated next to modern standards. It’s not a touchscreen, and lacks articulating mechanisms, limiting flexibility for low or high angle compositions.

In contrast, the Panasonic LX100 serves up a sharp 921k-dot display. Though also fixed and non-touch, its higher resolution markedly enhances critical focusing and menu navigation clarity, especially in challenging lighting.

A key differentiator is the electronic viewfinder - Olympus E-PM1 offers an optional accessory EVF with no native built-in finder, which feels a bit like an afterthought in today’s world. Meanwhile, the Panasonic LX100 features a built-in 2.76M-dot EVF with 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification, delivering a bright, immersive framing experience directly to your eye. This is a substantial advantage for street and wildlife shooters who rely on fast eye-level composition in variable light.

For those who prefer shooting with eyes on the viewfinder, the LX100’s built-in EVF decisively elevates the usability quotient, while the E-PM1’s barebones approach caters more to casual live view users on the LCD.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Evaluating the Core Advantage

Both cameras share the Four Thirds sensor size (17.3x13mm), but Olympus and Panasonic fine-tuned their implementations differently.

The Olympus E-PM1 packs a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor combined with the TruePic VI processor, delivering respectable color depth (21.0 bits) and dynamic range (~10.3 stops per DXOMark). Low-light ISO performance maxes around 12800, though image noise becomes noticeable past ISO 800.

The Panasonic LX100 edges ahead with a slightly higher resolution 13-megapixel sensor that benefits from a newer Venus Engine processor. Its color depth of 22.3 bits and dynamic range of 12.5 stops mark a clear technical leap, especially important for landscapes and high-contrast scenes. Low-light ISO performance is moderately better, with usable results up to ISO 1600 and acceptable noise levels up to ISO 3200.

In practice, the LX100 produces images with stronger tonal gradation, finer detail retention, and cleaner shadows - a byproduct of refined processing and sensor optimization. The E-PM1 tends to exhibit softer transition tones and more aggressive noise reduction, which can dull fine textures.

Portrait photographers will appreciate the LX100’s subtle rendering of skin tones and smoother gradations. Landscapers benefit from the increased dynamic range capturing highlight and shadow details. For casual shooters or those shooting mostly in daylight, E-PM1 still delivers solid quality at a competitive entry price.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking Precision

Autofocus systems are often an underrated fundamental in real-world shooting. Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF with multi-area and face-detection options, but differences emerge in implementation.

The Olympus E-PM1 offers 35 focus points, with support for single, continuous, and tracking AF modes. Its contrast-based system hunts slightly more aggressively in dim conditions, which may slow subject acquisition, especially moving targets. Face detection is effective but limited compared to more recent systems.

The Panasonic LX100 features a denser 49-point AF array and incorporates touch-to-focus capabilities for faster selection, significantly improving usability with its LCD screen. While neither camera sports phase-detection AF, Panasonic’s algorithms and Venus Engine processor deliver quicker lock-on and smoother subject tracking.

Burst shooting rates reinforce this: the E-PM1 maxes out around 6fps, while the LX100 doubles that with 11fps, a crucial benefit when photographing sports, wildlife, or action sequences.

For fast-paced photography such as sports or wildlife, LX100’s better autofocus speed and burst rate will yield more keepers. Portrait and street photographers will value its precise live view focus, whereas E-PM1’s AF remains serviceable if you operate mostly in predictable conditions.

Optical Versatility: Lenses and Built-in Zoom

The Olympus E-PM1, as a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless, relies on interchangeable lenses, while the Panasonic LX100 features a fast, fixed zoom lens.

The E-PM1 can mount any Micro Four Thirds lens, offering versatility from ultra-wide to super-telephoto. This opens doors to macro, sports, portrait, and landscape specialists who want tailored optics. However, the body alone is a basic kit - achieving professional-grade image quality depends heavily on lens selections. Additionally, Olympus’s compact bodies mean smaller grips but carry the penalty of more gear to manage.

The LX100 offers a built-in Leica-branded zoom with a focal length range of 24–75mm (equivalent) and a bright aperture from f/1.7 to f/2.8, allowing excellent low-light and shallow depth of field control. The lens design is a big draw for casual walk-around use when you want quality optics without swapping lenses.

While not as flexible as the E-PM1’s interchangeable system, the LX100 lens is versatile, delivering sharp results from wide angle landscapes to medium telephoto portraits and even close focusing down to 3cm.

No doubt, if your photography demands specialized lenses - say telephoto wildlife glass or macro rigs - the E-PM1 system will better match your ambitions. But if you prefer a quality all-in-one solution for everyday versatility, the LX100’s lens is hard to beat.

Build, Weather Sealing, and Durability – Who Can Take the Weather?

Neither camera is fully weather-sealed or ruggedized, so outdoor photographers should be cautious in harsh environments.

Both bodies rely on plastic and metal construction but lack dustproof or waterproof certifications, so use with care in rain or extreme conditions.

Given the E-PM1’s more minimal build, it feels slightly less robust in my hands than the LX100, which benefits from denser construction due to integrated zoom housing. Neither option suffices for professional all-weather work without additional protection.

Shooting Modes and Creative Controls

Both cameras offer manual exposure modes (shutter and aperture priority, full manual), exposure compensation, custom white balance, and standard bracketing options.

The Olympus E-PM1 supports sensor-based image stabilization that does a decent job at steadying shots with non-IS lenses. The Panasonic LX100 relies on optical image stabilization in the lens with smooth performance, especially beneficial during video and telephoto zooming.

Regarding video, the E-PM1 shoots 1080p Full HD at 60fps (AVCHD or Motion JPEG) but lacks 4K options or microphone input. The LX100 advances video capabilities with 4K UHD capture at 30p/24p and full HD up to 60p, extending creative possibilities to video enthusiasts, albeit still without mic/headphone ports.

Portability, Battery Life, and Connectivity Considerations

Battery life shows a mild trade-off: E-PM1 achieves around 330 shots per charge, while LX100 delivers approx 300. Neither is remarkable by modern standards, but both are typical for compact mirrorless and advanced compacts weighing in under 400g.

Regarding connectivity, the E-PM1 offers no wireless capabilities - no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth - requiring cables or card readers for transfer. The LX100 includes built-in wireless and NFC for convenient image transfer to devices, a notable boon for social sharing or remote shooting workflows.

Storage-wise, both use single SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with the LX100 supporting UHS-I standard for faster write speeds, advantageous during continuous bursts or 4K video recording.

Performance Scores and Real-World Shooting Results

To illustrate, here’s an overall rating summary from leading benchmark sites:

The Panasonic LX100 consistently outperforms the Olympus E-PM1 across key image quality and performance metrics, including color fidelity, dynamic range, low-light sensitivity, and burst shooting. The scores reflect improvements in processing algorithms and more mature hardware integration despite the cameras’ separated release dates.

How Each Camera Excels Across Photography Genres

Let’s get practical with genre-specific performance, detailing where each camera shines or falls short based on my hands-on testing.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-PM1 provides decent skin tone rendering, but softer image rendition and noisier high ISO capture limit its use beyond casual portraits.
• Panasonic LX100 captures nuanced skin hues, pleasing bokeh thanks to bright lens apertures, and superior facial contrast with robust eye AF support (albeit no animal eye AF). The built-in lens’ f/1.7 in wide end facilitates nice subject isolation.

Landscape Photography

• The LX100’s improved dynamic range and marginally higher resolution deliver superior tonal detail and highlight recovery.
• E-PM1 is adequate for casual landscapes, though subject to risk of clipping in harsh sunlight.
• Neither camera offers weather sealing – landscape photographers working in wet environments should be cautious.

Wildlife Photography

• Neither camera is a specialist here, but the LX100’s faster burst rate and autofocus tracking lend it an edge for quick reactions.
• Lack of long telephoto lens compatibility on LX100 limits its reach, whereas E-PM1’s ability to mount super-telephoto MFT lenses wins outright on this front.

Sports Photography

• The LX100 wins on speed and tracking accuracy with 11fps frame rate.
• E-PM1’s slower 6fps and limited AF responsiveness lag behind in fast action scenarios.

Street Photography

• The compact, lightweight E-PM1 body offers excellent discretion.
• LX100, though larger, benefits from quick zoom flexibility and built-in EVF for rapid framing, plus faster AF for fleeting moments.

Macro Photography

• E-PM1 paired with specialized macro lenses outperforms fixed-lens LX100, whose macro capability is limited to 3cm minimum focus.

Night and Astrophotography

• Both cameras can be used manually at high ISO, but LX100’s greater dynamic range and lower noise floor deliver cleaner starscapes.
• Lack of advanced astro modes or long-exposure noise reduction mean external accessories typically necessary.

Video Capabilities

• LX100 tops with 4K UHD video and optical image stabilization.
• E-PM1 limited to Full HD with sensor stabilization; lacks microphone input for pro audio.

Travel Photography

• E-PM1’s size and interchangeable system make it adaptable, but more cumbersome.
• LX100 combines versatile zoom and image quality in one package but at cost of some bulk.

Professional Work

• Neither camera is designed for high-end professional demands requiring rugged build or extensive workflow integration.
• Still, E-PM1’s lens ecosystem and RAW support offer expandability.
• LX100 serves well for walk-and-shoot assignments where image quality and video are needed on the go.

Bringing It All Together - Summary Table for Quick Comparison

Recommendations Tailored to Your Photography Needs

• For Beginner and Casual Shooters prioritizing portability and budget: The Olympus E-PM1 strikes a compelling balance of image quality, versatile lens options, and lightweight travel-friendly design. If you want to grow with a Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem, this is a great entry point. Just note the modest video and connectivity options.

• For Enthusiasts Demanding Versatility and Image Quality in a Compact Form: Panasonic LX100 is a powerhouse with impressive still image and video quality, robust autofocus, and handy built-in zoom. The built-in EVF and 4K video push it beyond entry-level compacts into serious creative territory. The price premium reflects these flags of quality.

• For Travel Photographers craving “Do it all” flexibility without swapping lenses: LX100’s versatile zoom and stellar IQ let you pack less and shoot more without compromise, though you’ll carry more weight than with the E-PM1.

• For Portrait and Landscape Specialists looking for better tones and dynamic range: The LX100’s improved sensor and processing deliver finer gradations and detailed recovery, especially crucial in challenging lighting or studio setups.

• For Wildlife or Sports Photographers on a budget: E-PM1’s lens compatibility opens doors to powerful telephotos, but the LX100’s faster burst rate and AF responsiveness might save shots when subjects don’t wait.

Final Thoughts – Which Camera Wins?

In my hands-on experience, the Panasonic LX100 stands out as a more complete imaging tool with advanced capabilities that justify its higher price. Its balanced combination of high-quality sensor, fast lens, built-in EVF, and strong video features takes the crown for enthusiasts wanting to travel light without sacrificing image quality or flexibility.

However, the Olympus E-PM1 remains a formidable choice for those placing a premium on lightweight gear and interchangeability within the Micro Four Thirds system. For photographers who already own MFT lenses or want modular growth, this camera’s excellent image quality baseline and compact design are hard to overlook.

Olympus E PM1 screen back Panasonic LX100 front Panasonic LX100 screen back

The sample images above demonstrate these distinctions practically - warmer tones and bolder contrast in Olympus portraits versus sharper details and smoother gradients on Panasonic landscapes.

Remember, your decision will likely rest on how you balance portability against versatility, image quality, and budget. Both cameras have their niche, and I encourage you to handle each in-store if possible to gauge the feel - nothing replaces tactile familiarity.

Thank you for reading my thorough comparison. For further insights, including live shooting tests and video samples, please check my full video review linked above, where I break down real-world scenarios in more depth.

Happy shooting!