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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 front
Portability
69
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 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
  • Announced May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic G85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 505g - 128 x 89 x 74mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-G80
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G95
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 Overview

Following is a comprehensive review of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic G85, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the G85 (16MP) is very close and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM2 was launched 4 years earlier than the G85 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G85 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-PM2 scores versus the G85 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic G85

 E-PM2 G85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G85 over the Olympus E-PM2

 G85 E-PM2 
LaunchedSeptember 2016May 2013More modern by 40 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k460kSharper display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic G85

 E-PM2 G85 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want 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") with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic G85 has measurements of 128mm x 89mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9") with a weight of 505 grams (1.11 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic G85 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PM2 vs the G85.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and G85 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes just by viewing specs. The image here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PM2 and G85.

All in all, both cameras come with the identical sensor size and the identical resolution so you should expect comparable quality of files though you would want to take the production date of the cameras into account. The more aged E-PM2 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-PM2
Portrait photography with Panasonic G85
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
72
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography features
Panasonic G85 Street photography features
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports focus via touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes touch focus
weather sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic G85 Sports photography advice
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
64
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
low battery pack (330 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic G85 as a Travel photography camera
66
supports focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
71
weather sealing
includes touch focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
low battery pack (330 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Panasonic G85
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
no anti aliasing filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery pack (330 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic G85 as a Vlogging camera
36
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic socket
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic G85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic G85
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-G80
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2013-05-21 2016-09-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.74x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 6.20 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269 grams (0.59 pounds) 505 grams (1.11 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 128 x 89 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.5" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 72 71
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.2 12.5
DXO Low light rating 932 656
Other
Battery life 360 images 330 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs x 3 shots)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $448 $900