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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 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
  • Announced May 2013
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Successor is Panasonic GF6
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

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).

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic GF5

 E-PM2 GF5 
AnnouncedMay 2013April 2012Newer by 14 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 GF5 E-PM2 
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF5

 E-PM2 GF5 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

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

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
56
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography features
Panasonic GF5 Street photography features
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
boasts touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides touch focus
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
no phase detect autofocus
41
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Travel photography camera
66
boasts touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
61
provides touch focus
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
59
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging features
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of mic port
32
has touchscreen
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of external mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-05-21 2012-04-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 160
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set 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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 267g (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 50
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 20.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 10.0
DXO Low light score 932 573
Other
Battery life 360 photos 360 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $448 $600