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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 front
Portability
59
Imaging
60
Features
89
Overall
71

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 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
  • Released May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic GH5
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 725g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH4
  • New Model is Panasonic GH5 II
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 Overview

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic GH5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PM2 (16MP) and the GH5 (20MP) is pretty similar and both cameras offer the identical sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM2 was announced 4 years prior to the GH5 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GH5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-PM2 matches up versus the GH5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic GH5

 E-PM2 GH5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 GH5 E-PM2 
RevealedJanuary 2017May 2013Fresher by 44 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k460kClearer screen (+1160k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GH5

 E-PM2 GH5 
Manual focus More precise focus
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-PM2 features exterior dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic GH5 has proportions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") having a weight of 725 grams (1.60 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM2 versus Panasonic GH5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the E-PM2 and the GH5.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-PM2 and GH5 is 89 and 59 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The photograph underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PM2 and GH5.

Plainly, both cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Panasonic GH5 to offer you greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PM2 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH5 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
76
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography details
Panasonic GH5 Street photography details
79
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
74
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has touch focus
weather proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GH5 Sports photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
68
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
terrible battery (410 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
Travel photography with Panasonic GH5
66
provides focus by touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
68
weather proof
supports bluetooth
has touch focus
MP count good (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-PM2
Landscape photography with Panasonic GH5
74
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
no Time Lapse recording
75
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
does not have anti-alias filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
two card slots
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging information
Panasonic GH5 Vlogging information
36
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic port
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has mic socket
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic GH5
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2013-05-21 2017-01-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine
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 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW pictures
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 35 225
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 460k dots 1,620k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.76x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 8.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, Auto/Redeye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On w/Redeye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Redeye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum 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) 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 pounds) 725 gr (1.60 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 77
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 13.0
DXO Low light score 932 807
Other
Battery life 360 images 410 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs; 10 secs w/3 shots)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Two
Pricing at launch $448 $1,298