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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 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
  • Revealed May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Introduced December 2011
  • Older Model is Panasonic LX3
  • Successor is Panasonic LX7
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the E-PM2 (16MP) and LX5 (10MP) and the E-PM2 (Four Thirds) and LX5 (1/1.63") provide different sensor dimensions.

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The E-PM2 was brought out 18 months later than the LX5 making them a generation apart from one another. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-PM2 matches up against the LX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Panasonic LX5

 E-PM2 LX5 
IntroducedMay 2013December 2011Fresher by 18 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 LX5 E-PM2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LX5

 E-PM2 LX5 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. 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 LX5 has dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the E-PM2 versus the LX5.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PM2 and LX5 is 89 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the gap in sensor sizing simply by viewing specs. The graphic here will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-PM2 and LX5.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-PM2 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh easier and the Olympus E-PM2 will render extra detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The newer E-PM2 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Portrait photography features
Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
41
focusing manually
saves RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PM2
Street photography with Panasonic LX5
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than others in class (271g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic LX5 Sports photography advice
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect AF
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Travel photography camera
66
boasts focus by touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
59
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (271g)
MP count low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic LX5 Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
missing Timelapse function
52
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
Vlogging with Panasonic LX5
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
29
decently wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
heavier than others in class (271g)
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Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PM2 and Panasonic LX5
 Olympus PEN E-PM2Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-05-21 2011-12-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-90mm (3.8x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.0-3.3
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 4.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 8.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) 7.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269 gr (0.59 lb) 271 gr (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 41
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 19.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 10.8
DXO Low light score 932 132
Other
Battery life 360 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $448 $294