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Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GH2

The Olympus E-5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public in September 2010. The E-5 is a DSLR, while the GH2 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-5
versus
Panasonic GH2
Olympus E-5   Panasonic GH2
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
12.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor 15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor
720/30p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO 100-6,400 ISO 160-12,800
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (1534k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
750 shots per battery charge330 shots per battery charge
142 x 117 x 75 mm, 873 g 124 x 90 x 76 mm, 442 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-5 and the Panasonic GH2 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The GH2 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the E-5 is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GH2
Compare E-5 versus GH2 top
Comparison E-5 or GH2 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic GH2 is considerably smaller (33 percent) than the Olympus E-5. Moreover, the GH2 is substantially lighter (49 percent) than the E-5. It is worth mentioning in this context that the E-5 is splash and dust resistant, while the GH2 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-5) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (GH2). Mirrorless cameras, such as the GH2, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the E-5 gets 750 shots out of its Olympus BLM-5 battery, while the GH2 can take 330 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLC12 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-5 142 mm 117 mm 75 mm 873 g 750 Y Sep 2010 US$ 1 699ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic GH2 124 mm 90 mm 76 mm 442 g 330 n Sep 2010 US$ 899ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-1 141 mm 104 mm 81 mm 738 g 750 Y Jun 2003 US$ 1 699ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-3 142 mm 116 mm 75 mm 876 g 750 Y Oct 2007 US$ 1 699ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-30 142 mm 108 mm 75 mm 701 g 750 n Nov 2008 US$ 1 299ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 n Mar 2007 US$ 799ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 US$ 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-600 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 535 g 500 n Aug 2009 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-620 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 521 g 500 n Feb 2009 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-P1 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Jun 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-P2 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Nov 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-PL1 115 mm 72 mm 42 mm 334 g 290 n Feb 2010 US$ 599ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GF1 119 mm 71 mm 36 mm 385 g 380 n Sep 2009 US$ 749ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 US$ 899ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GM1 99 mm 55 mm 30 mm 204 g 230 n Oct 2013 US$ 749ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic GM5 99 mm 60 mm 36 mm 211 g 220 n Sep 2014 US$ 749ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic GX7 123 mm 71 mm 55 mm 402 g 350 n Aug 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The GH2 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 47 percent) than the E-5, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Olympus E-5 and Panasonic GH2 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the GH2 offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 12.2 MP of the E-5. This megapixels advantage translates into a 14 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the GH2 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 4.29μm for the E-5). It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic GH2 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GH2 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-5 are 20.2 x 15.1 inches or 51.2 x 38.4 cm for good quality, 16.1 x 12.1 inches or 41 x 30.7 cm for very good quality, and 13.4 x 10.1 inches or 34.1 x 25.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus E-5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 are ISO 160 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-5 versus GH2 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under consideration, the GH2 has a markedly higher DXO score than the E-5 (overall score 4 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.4 bits lower color depth, 0.8 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.3 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-5 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.610.551956
2.
 
Panasonic GH2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i21.211.365560
3.
 
Olympus E-1 Four Thirds 4.9 2560 1920none20.09.7-14544
4.
 
Olympus E-3 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.610.557156
5.
 
Olympus E-30 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.453055
6.
 
Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.210.044252
7.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
8.
 
Olympus E-600 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.510.354155
9.
 
Olympus E-620 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.353655
10.
 
Olympus E-P1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.453655
11.
 
Olympus E-P2 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.450556
12.
 
Olympus E-PL1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.510.148754
13.
 
Panasonic GF1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.351354
14.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
15.
 
Panasonic GM1 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i22.311.766066
16.
 
Panasonic GM5 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.111.772166
17.
 
Panasonic GX7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.612.271870
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the GH2 provides a better video resolution than the E-5. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Olympus is limited to 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the GH2 has an electronic viewfinder (1534k dots), while the E-5 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the GH2 has a higher magnification than the one of the E-5 (0.71x vs 0.58x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-5, the Panasonic GH2, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-5optical Y3.0 / 920 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Panasonic GH21534 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Olympus E-1optical Y1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n n
4.
 
Olympus E-3optical Y2.5 / 230 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Olympus E-30optical Y2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Olympus E-510optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-600optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Olympus E-620optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Olympus E-P1none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
11.
 
Olympus E-P2optional n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
12.
 
Olympus E-PL1optional n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/2000s 3.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Panasonic GF1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
14.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
15.
 
Panasonic GM1none n3.0 / 1036 fixed Y 1/500s 5.0/s Y n
16.
 
Panasonic GM51166 n3.0 / 921 fixed Y 1/500s 5.8/s n n
17.
 
Panasonic GX72760 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the E-5, but is missing on the GH2 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The E-5 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the GH2 uses SDXC cards. The E-5 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the GH2 only has one slot.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-5Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic GH2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-1Y- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-3Y- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-30Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-510Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-600Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-620Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-P1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
11.
 
Olympus E-P2Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
12.
 
Olympus E-PL1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic GF1Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
15.
 
Panasonic GM1-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
16.
 
Panasonic GM5Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
17.
 
Panasonic GX7Ystereo / mono--mini2.0YY-

It is notable that the GH2 has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The E-5 does not feature such a mic input.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-5 (unlike the GH2) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the E-5 and the GH2 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The GH2 was replaced by the Panasonic GH3, while the E-5 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the E-5 and GH2 can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-5 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic GH2 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-5 or the Panasonic GH2 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Reasons to prefer the Olympus E-5:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 460k dots).
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 330) on a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.

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Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (15.9 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 14%.
  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (4 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (0.8 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.3 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.58x).
  • More compact: Is smaller (124x90mm vs 142x117mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 431g or 49 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (47 percent cheaper at launch).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GH2 emerges as the winner of the match-up (12 : 10 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-5 10:12 GH2

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-5 and the Panasonic GH2 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-5 or the GH2. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-54/5....75/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2010 US$ 1 699ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic GH25/5+ +..79/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2010 US$ 899ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-1......+o.. Jun 2003 US$ 1 699ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-3..88/100..+ +o4/5 Oct 2007 US$ 1 699ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-30......71/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2008 US$ 1 299ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 US$ 799ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 US$ 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-600..........4.5/5 Aug 2009 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-6203/588/100..72/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2009 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-P1..+..66/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-P23/5+..69/1004/54.5/5 Nov 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-PL1..86/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 US$ 599ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GF1..85/100..69/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 US$ 749ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 US$ 899ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GM13/5+..78/1005/54.5/5 Oct 2013 US$ 749ebay.com
16.
 
Panasonic GM53.5/5+..77/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2014 US$ 749ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic GX74/5+..79/1005/55/5 Aug 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-5 vs Panasonic GH2

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-5 Panasonic GH2
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date September 2010 September 2010
    Launch Price USD 1,699 USD 899
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-5 Panasonic GH2
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12.2 Megapixels 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4032 x 3024 pixels 4608 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.29 μm 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 5.42 MP/cm2 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 720/30p Video 1080/60i Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 160 - 12,800 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic V+ Venus FHD
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 56 60
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.6 21.2
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.5 11.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 519 655
    Screen Specs Olympus E-5 Panasonic GH2
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.58x 0.71x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1534k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Swivel screen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-5 Panasonic GH2
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationLens stabilization only
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF or XD cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-5 Panasonic GH2
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Olympus E-5 Panasonic GH2
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Olympus BLM-5 Panasonic DMW-BLC12
    Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge330 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 142 x 117 x 75 mm
    (5.6 x 4.6 x 3.0 in)
    124 x 90 x 76 mm
    (4.9 x 3.5 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 873 g (30.8 oz) 442 g (15.6 oz)
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