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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced May 2013
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic S5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Revealed August 2020
  • Successor is Panasonic S5 II
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic S5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and S5 (24MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and S5 (Full frame) feature different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 8 years prior to the S5 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-PM2 scores versus the S5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic S5

 E-PM2 S5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 S5 E-PM2 
RevealedAugust 2020May 2013Fresher by 88 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1840k460kCrisper display (+1380k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic S5

 E-PM2 S5 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display dimension3"3.0"Identical display size
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S5 has specifications of 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 714 grams (1.57 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic S5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-PM2 compared to the S5.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and S5 is 89 and 60 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing specifications. The photograph here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and S5.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more challenging and the Panasonic S5 will render greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older E-PM2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Panasonic S5
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
85
focusing manually
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography factors
Panasonic S5 Street photography factors
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
78
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Panasonic S5
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
81
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography details
Panasonic S5 Travel photography details
66
comes with touch focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
79
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
includes touch focus
MP count decent (24MP)
selfie friendly screen
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic S5 Landscape photography factors
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
86
focusing manually
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
decent sized screen (3.0")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
does not have anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging info
Panasonic S5 Vlogging info
36
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic jack
79
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic S5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic S5
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2013-05-21 2020-08-14
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 225
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Leica L
Amount of lenses 107 31
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3.0"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 1,840k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 714 gr (1.57 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 440 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Card slots One 2
Cost at release $448 $1,999