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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 Key Specs

Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Released May 2013
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic FH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 163g - 98 x 55 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS10
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FH1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and FH1 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and FH1 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was launched 3 years later than the FH1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH1 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the E-PM2 scores vs the FH1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic FH1

 E-PM2 FH1 
RevealedMay 2013January 2010Fresher by 42 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH1 over the Olympus E-PM2

 FH1 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FH1

 E-PM2 FH1 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PM2 has outer measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic FH1 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 163 grams (0.36 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FH1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PM2 vs the FH1.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and FH1 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading through technical specs. The photograph below will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PM2 and FH1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Olympus E-PM2 will give greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The newer E-PM2 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FH1 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
21
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Panasonic FH1
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
Sports photography with Panasonic FH1
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH1 Travel photography highlights
66
includes focus by touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
58
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FH1 Landscape photography info
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse recording
32
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FH1 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
29
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic port
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FH1
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FS10
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-05-21 2010-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 163 grams (0.36 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 98 x 55 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 932 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $448 $150