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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 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
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FS12, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 4 years later than the FS12 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the FS12 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic FS12

 E-PM2 FS12 
LaunchedMay 2013April 2009Fresher by 50 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus E-PM2

 FS12 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FS12

 E-PM2 FS12 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 comes with 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 FS12 has sizing of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FS12 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-PM2 against the FS12.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and FS12 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and FS12.

As you have seen, both cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 due to its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-PM2 will render greater detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The newer E-PM2 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography features
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
21
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Panasonic FS12
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography factors
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
66
comes with touch to focus
MP count decent (16MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography details
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FS12 Vlogging factors
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
missing mic support
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (31mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Introduced 2013-05-21 2009-04-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
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 surface 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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
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) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 129 gr (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" 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 -
Type of battery 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 card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $448 $228