• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 17.0 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 75.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Olympus E-M5 advantages over Panasonic LX100 II

  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Fast startup
    ~1.10 vs 2.8 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 360 vs 300 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    43 mm vs 64 mm
    Thinner
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Panasonic LX100 II advantages over Olympus E-M5

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/4000 vs 1/250 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    6 years vs 13 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Higher-res screen
    413k vs 205k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.16 vs 0.28 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.70x vs 0.58x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.3 fps vs 8.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    109 vs 17 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    11.2 fps vs 9.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    34 vs 16 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

  • Attractive body design; Well-built, weather-sealed body; Excellent image quality; Excellent image stabilization; Very fast autofocus.

  • Exposure compensation dial changes easily; Small buttons; No in-camera chromatic aberration correction; Bundled flash is weak; Video compression artifacts with rapidly-moving subjects.

  • Read our Olympus E-M5 Review

  • Compact coat-pocket friendly body with plenty of dedicated controls; Great electronic viewfinder; Impressive image quality for its class; Generous performance; Decent battery life.

  • Too big for a pants pocket; No articulation for LCD; Relatively short zoom range compared to some rivals; Can't use full sensor area at any aspect ratio; Not the best choice for video.

  • Read our Panasonic LX100 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Olympus E-M5
Olympus E-M1
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Thinner
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-M1

Panasonic LX100 II
Olympus E-M1
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic LX100 II vs Olympus E-M1

Compared to Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M5
Panasonic G3
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3

Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic G3
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic LX100 II vs Panasonic G3

Compared to Olympus E-P5

Olympus E-M5
Olympus E-P5
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5

Panasonic LX100 II
Olympus E-P5
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic LX100 II vs Olympus E-P5

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M5
Panasonic GX7
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GX7

Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic GX7
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Built-in Bluetooth
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic LX100 II vs Panasonic GX7

Compared to Panasonic LX100

Olympus E-M5
Panasonic LX100
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LX100

Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic LX100
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Touchscreen
  • Built-in Bluetooth
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compare Panasonic LX100 II vs Panasonic LX100

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