Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FP7

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FP7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the FP7 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and FP7 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The E-PM2 was introduced 2 years after the FP7 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PM2 scores vs the FP7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Panasonic FP7 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 enjoys outside dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Panasonic FP7 has sizing of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") with a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FP7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM2 and the FP7.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and FP7 is 89 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The picture here will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and FP7.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide the same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizes. The E-PM2 has got the bigger sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler. The more recent E-PM2 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.