Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5

The following is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and GF5 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-PM2 was released 14 months after the GF5 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-PM2 grades vs the GF5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus PEN E-PM2 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-PM2 Gallery & Panasonic GF5 Gallery.

In case you're planning to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-PM2 features physical dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic GF5 has specifications of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") along with a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-PM2 versus the GF5.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and GF5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through specifications. The pic below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and GF5.

Plainly, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Olympus E-PM2 to resolve more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The more modern E-PM2 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.