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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
84
Imaging
59
Features
79
Overall
67
Olympus PEN-F front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 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
  • Launched January 2016
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
  • Launched December 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic LX3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LX7
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Following is a extended analysis of the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the sensor resolutions of the PEN-F (20MP) and LX5 (10MP) and the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and LX5 (1/1.63") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The PEN-F was introduced 4 years after the LX5 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus PEN-F being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the PEN-F matches up against the LX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus PEN-F over the Panasonic LX5

 PEN-F LX5 
LaunchedJanuary 2016December 2011More modern by 51 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Olympus PEN-F

 LX5 PEN-F 

Common features in the Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic LX5

 PEN-F LX5 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus PEN-F provides outside measurements of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Panasonic LX5 has proportions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view size comparison of the PEN-F against the LX5.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PEN-F and LX5 is 84 and 88 respectively.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to see the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching specifications. The picture underneath will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the PEN-F and LX5.

To sum up, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The PEN-F using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Olympus PEN-F will result in extra detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more recent PEN-F will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Portrait photography factors
Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography factors
75
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
41
manual focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Street photography features
Panasonic LX5 Street photography features
84
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
59
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
more heavy than competitors (271g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Sports photography info
Panasonic LX5 Sports photography info
67
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
bad battery life (330 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Travel photography advice
Panasonic LX5 Travel photography advice
75
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery life (330 CIPA)
59
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (271 grams)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus PEN-F
Landscape photography with Panasonic LX5
76
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
bad battery life (330 CIPA)
52
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.63")
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus PEN-F Vlogging features
Panasonic LX5 Vlogging features
78
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
more heavy than competitors (271 grams)
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Olympus PEN-F vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus PEN-F and Panasonic LX5
 Olympus PEN-FPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus PEN-F Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2016-01-27 2011-12-15
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
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 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-90mm (3.8x)
Highest aperture - f/2.0-3.3
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 4.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 7.20 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
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p) 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 grams (0.94 pounds) 271 grams (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 72 x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 74 41
DXO Color Depth score 23.1 19.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 10.8
DXO Low light score 894 132
Other
Battery life 330 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $1,000 $294