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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus PEN-F
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 427g - 125 x 72 x 37mm
  • Revealed January 2016
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a big gap between the image resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and FS12 (12MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and FS12 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was unveiled 6 years later than the FS12 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the PEN-F scores vs the FS12 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic FS12

 PEN-F FS12 
LaunchedJanuary 2016April 2009More recent by 83 months
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1037k230kCrisper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus PEN-F

 FS12 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic FS12

 PEN-F FS12 

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus PEN-F offers physical dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Panasonic FS12 has measurements of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the PEN-F against the FS12.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and FS12 is 84 and 95 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through technical specs. The visual here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the PEN-F and FS12.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The PEN-F having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus PEN-F will give you more detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus PEN-F
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS12
75
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
21
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Street photography camera
84
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography factors
Panasonic FS12 Sports photography factors
67
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
terrible battery life (330 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FS12 Travel photography highlights
75
supports touch to focus
resolution is good (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery life (330 CIPA)
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Landscape photography camera
76
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (330 CIPA)
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
78
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Type Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Revealed 2016-01-27 2009-04-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VII -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 25600 1600
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 31-124mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.30 m
Flash settings Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 427 grams (0.94 lb) 129 grams (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 894 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $1,000 $228