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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 front
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
73
Overall
59

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 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
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic LX100
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-75mm (F1.7-2.8) lens
  • 393g - 115 x 66 x 55mm
  • Revealed September 2014
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LX100 II
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LX100, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and LX100 (13MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-PM2 was revealed 16 months before the LX100 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-PM2 matches up vs the LX100 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic LX100

 E-PM2 LX100 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX100 over the Olympus E-PM2

 LX100 E-PM2 
RevealedSeptember 2014May 2013More recent by 16 months
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LX100

 E-PM2 LX100 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-PM2 offers outside 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 LX100 has sizing of 115mm x 66mm x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") and a weight of 393 grams (0.87 lbs).

See the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LX100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-PM2 vs the LX100.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PM2 and LX100 is 89 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading specs. The graphic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and LX100.

All in all, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Olympus E-PM2 to deliver more detail because of its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The older E-PM2 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography info
Panasonic LX100 Portrait photography info
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
70
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (13 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Street photography factors
Panasonic LX100 Street photography factors
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
76
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LX100 as a Sports photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
67
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (13MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Travel photography information
Panasonic LX100 Travel photography information
66
includes touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
75
has touch focus
decent megapixels (13MP)
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.7)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LX100 Landscape photography advice
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
73
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.7)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (13 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LX100 as a Vlogging camera
36
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
35
rather wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.7)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LX100
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-05-21 2014-09-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine
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 megapixels 13 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4112 x 3088
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 49
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-75mm (3.1x)
Max aperture - f/1.7-2.8
Macro focus range - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,764k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 7.00 m (with included external flash at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 393g (0.87 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 115 x 66 x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 12.5
DXO Low light score 932 553
Other
Battery life 360 images 300 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Card slots One One
Launch cost $448 $800