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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 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 F5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 97 x 58 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic F5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the F5 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and F5 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-PM2 was unveiled 5 months later than the F5 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic F5 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-PM2 matches up against the F5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic F5

 E-PM2 F5 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic F5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 F5 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic F5

 E-PM2 F5 
LaunchedMay 2013January 2013Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic F5 has measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic F5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-PM2 versus the F5.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and F5 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and F5.

Clearly, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Olympus E-PM2 will give you extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic F5 Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
29
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography info
Panasonic F5 Street photography info
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
56
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic F5 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic F5 Travel photography factors
66
supports focus via touch
resolution is good (16MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
68
lighter than competitors in class (121g)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic F5 Landscape photography details
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have Timelapse recording
33
really wide (28mm)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging details
Panasonic F5 Vlogging details
36
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
28
really wide (28mm)
lighter than competitors in class (121 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic F5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic F5
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-05-21 2013-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-6.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 5.70 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 269 grams (0.59 lb) 121 grams (0.27 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 97 x 58 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9")
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 photos 250 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $448 $100