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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 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
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic FH5, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the FH5 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and FH5 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was released 2 years later than the FH5 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-PM2 grades against the FH5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic FH5

 E-PM2 FH5 
AnnouncedMay 2013January 2011Fresher by 29 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 FH5 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FH5

 E-PM2 FH5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PM2 has physical 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 FH5 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic FH5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PM2 vs the FH5.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and FH5 is 89 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The photograph below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and FH5.

All in all, each of the cameras feature the identical resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The E-PM2 features the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field simpler. The fresher E-PM2 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography features
Panasonic FH5 Street photography features
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (121g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography details
Panasonic FH5 Sports photography details
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Panasonic FH5
66
offers touch focus
good MP (16MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
71
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH5 as a Landscape photography camera
74
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have Timelapse mode
38
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FH5 Vlogging factors
36
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone port
33
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FH5
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-FS18
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-05-21 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 121 grams (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 images 260 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $448 $169