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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 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
  • Introduced January 2016
Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic G3
  • Replacement is Panasonic G6
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and G5 (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The PEN-F was announced 3 years after the G5 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the PEN-F grades versus the G5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic G5

 PEN-F G5 
AnnouncedJanuary 2016July 2012More modern by 43 months
Display resolution1037k920kSharper display (+117k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Olympus PEN-F

 G5 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic G5

 PEN-F G5 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus PEN-F features external measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G5 has sizing of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

Look at the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the PEN-F vs the G5.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and G5 is 84 and 74 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes simply by checking out specs. The picture here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and G5.

All in all, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Olympus PEN-F to produce extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern PEN-F will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic G5 as a Portrait photography camera
75
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
71
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography highlights
Panasonic G5 Street photography highlights
84
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
good high ISO (25,600)
66
screen can move to multiple angles
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers focus via touch
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competitors (396 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic G5 as a Sports photography camera
67
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
bad battery life (330 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
51
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography factors
Panasonic G5 Travel photography factors
75
comes with touch focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery life (330 shots)
66
offers focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (396g)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
Landscape photography with Panasonic G5
76
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
bad battery life (330 shots)
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging factors
Panasonic G5 Vlogging factors
78
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
62
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have image stabilization
lack of external mic port
heavier than competitors (396g)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic G5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic G5
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-G5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2016-01-27 2012-07-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine VII 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 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 160
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.50 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427g (0.94 lb) 396g (0.87 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 74 61
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 11.6
DXO Low light score 894 618
Other
Battery life 330 photos 320 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $1,000 $699