Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III vs Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II — Which Is Better?
Side by side47 specifications |
Olympus · Mirrorless · 20 MP · Micro Four Thirds · 4K video
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
72
SCORE
|
Panasonic · Mirrorless · 20.33 MP · Micro Four Thirds · 6K video
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II
73
WINNER
|
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| General | ||
Read the General ComparisonGeneralThe Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II are mirrorless cameras on the shared Micro Four Thirds mount, so lenses move freely between them. Both use 20-megapixel-class sensors, so print and crop sizes stay effectively the same. The Olympus arrived in 2020, the Panasonic a year later. The E-M1 Mark III is the smaller and lighter body, at 134 x 91 x 69 mm and 580 g against the GH5 II's 139 x 98 x 87 mm and 727 g. The 147 g difference favours the Olympus for travel carry. | ||
Released ⓘRefers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale. |
2020 | 2021 |
Announcement date ⓘRefers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera. |
February 12, 2020 | May 25, 2021 |
| Camera type |  Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Camera size | 134 x 91 x 69 mm | 139 x 98 x 87 mm |
| Camera weight | 580 g | 727 g |
| Optics | 68/100 | 68/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsThe E-M1 Mark III is the clear choice for fast-action stills, shooting at up to 60 fps where the GH5 II reaches 12 fps. For a bird in flight or a sprinter, that burst gap is decisive. Both offer in-body stabilisation for handheld work at slower shutter speeds. The GH5 II is the stronger pick for wide-aperture daylight shooting, helped by a 1/16000 second maximum shutter against the Olympus 1/8000 setting. It also has 225 autofocus points against 121 and a finer 3,680,000-dot electronic viewfinder against 2,360,000 dots. Both share a 25,600 ISO ceiling. | ||
Megapixels ⓘThe higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture. |
20 MP050 | 20.33 MP050 |
Image resolution ⓘImage resolution is measured in pixels and megapixels, width by height. The higher the number, the higher its resolution. |
5184 x 3888 | 5184 x 3888 |
Sensor type ⓘThe camera sensor captures light and records the image. Sensors vary in physical size, the number of pixels, and quality. |
CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size ⓘThe sensor size contributes to the overall quality as well as the dynamic and tonal range a camera can capture. As a rule of thumb, the more surface there is to read the light, the more information it will capture. |
17.4 x 13 | 13 x 17.3 |
Sensor format ⓘRefers to the most commonly used sensor sizes. |
 Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
Continuous shooting ⓘThe number of sequential frames per second the camera can write to the memory card when shooting in burst or continuous mode. |
60 fps045 | 12 fps045 |
Lens mount ⓘThe lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras. |
Micro 4/3 | Micro 4/3 |
Image processor ⓘThe image processor in the camera converts the information collected on the sensor for digital storage on the memory card. |
TruePic IX | Venus Engine |
Aspect ratio ⓘThe aspect ratio refers to the proportional difference between width and height. The most popular aspect ratios are 3:2 and 4:3. |
 4:3 | 4:3 |
Min ISO ⓘRefers to the lowest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Lower ISO are less sensitive to light but make a cleaner image. |
20030200 | 10030200 |
Max ISO ⓘRefers to the highest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Higher ISO is necessary for low-light situations or night photography, but higher ISOs often introduce grain or noise. |
256003003280000 | 256003003280000 |
Min ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
6430200 | 5030200 |
Max ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
256003003280000 | 256003003280000 |
Minimum shutter speed ⓘThe minimum shutter speed will tell you the longest exposure your camera can take without using an external accessory. |
6044080 | 6044080 |
Max shutter speed ⓘThe maximum shutter speed tells you the length inside 1 second the camera will capture. These can sometimes be extended with accessories such as extra external batteries. |
800080032000 | 1600080032000 |
Autofocus points ⓘAutofocus points show where the camera is focusing graphically as squares or brackets in Live View or on an electronic viewfinder. These points are also used for light meter readings. |
1210300 | 2250300 |
In-body stabilisation ⓘIn-body Stabilization means the camera has a certain technology embedded that counteracts camera shake. |
 Yes | Yes |
Viewfinder type ⓘThe viewfinder type is either electronic or optical. Electronic viewfinders will have a small screen in the viewfinder. Optical viewfinders will use prisms and mirrors to look through the lens. |
Electronic | Electronic |
| Viewfinder dots | 236000009900000 | 368000009900000 |
| Video | 83/100 | 74/100 |
Read the Video ComparisonVideoVideo work favours the GH5 II when detail matters most, recording at up to 6K where the E-M1 Mark III tops out at 4K. That extra resolution gives an editor more room to crop and stabilise while still delivering a sharp 4K master. The Olympus is the better pick for fast movement on camera, with a 60 fps maximum video frame rate against the Panasonic's 30 fps for smoother motion. Both offer built-in timelapse, so interval shooting is ready on either body. | ||
Video ⓘIndicates if this camera is capable of recording video. |
 Yes | Yes |
Max video resolution ⓘThe best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video. |
 4K |  6K |
Max video format ⓘVideo resolution measured by the greatest number of pixels possible in each frame, width by height. A higher resolution means more detail or clarity in your video. |
4096 x 2160 | 4992 x 3774 |
Max video frame rate ⓘHow many frames per second your video will capture. Most cameras have options for multiple frame rates, depending on the resolution you shoot in. For a general video, 24p or 30p is the standard, but more serious filmmakers may need a higher frame rate for creative effect. |
60 fps | 30 fps |
Timelapse built in ⓘA built in time-lapse mode will allow continuous shooting throughout a prolonged period of time to be compressed into a sped up video. |
 Yes | Yes |
Video file format ⓘDifferent cameras can record in various video file formats. The File format you record in can impact how you edit and use the files. |
MPEG-4, MOV | MOV, MP4 |
| Features | 83/100 | 85/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesThe GH5 II has the more detailed rear screen for playback and focus checking, with 1,840,000 dots against 1,037,000 on the E-M1 Mark III. Both offer a 3-inch touch screen that flips out for framing at awkward angles, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Weather sealing is present on both for outdoor shooting, and neither has a built-in flash, though both take external flash units. GPS is absent from both, so neither tags files with location data. | ||
Builtin flash ⓘA built-in flash will often be positioned right above the lens. This will automatically pop up when you activate it. |
✗ | ✗ |
External flash ⓘExternal flashes are often connected through a hot shoe at the top of a camera, or a cable at the side of the camera. |
 Yes | Yes |
GPS ⓘGPS features in a camera will include location metadata to each of your photographs. |
✗ | ✗ |
Weather sealing ⓘWeather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD | LCD |
Touch screen ⓘTouchscreen allows you to change camera settings and access menus with a swipe of your finger, instead of using buttons. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen size | 3" | 3" |
Screen dots ⓘScreen dots indicate the resolution of the LCD screen by including each sub pixel. |
10370001150001500000 | 18400001150001500000 |
Flip screen ⓘA flip screen (or articulating screen) is a second screen which can flip out from the side or top of the camera. This rotating screen allows you more freedom to take photos at different angles. |
 Yes | Yes |
Live view ⓘLive View feature allows you to see a continuous live video of what is being seen through your lens. |
 Yes | Yes |
Wi-Fi ⓘBuilt-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect your camera and share images wirelessly. |
 Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth ⓘBluetooth capabilities allow you wireless control of your camera with other external devices. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Storage & battery | 71/100 | 71/100 |
Read the Storage & battery ComparisonStorage and BatteryBoth carry two SD card slots, so a second card is always loaded and ready. The card-speed difference is that the GH5 II's slots are UHS-II compatible, while the E-M1 Mark III offers UHS-II compatibility on only one of its slots. Rated battery life is close, at 420 shots for the E-M1 Mark III against 400 for the GH5 II under their test conditions. Both charge over USB, and the BLH-1 and DMW-BLK22 batteries differ, so spares are not interchangeable. | ||
| Memory card | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible on one slot) | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible) |
| Dual memory card slots |  Yes | Yes |
| Battery type | BLH-1 | DMW-BLK22 |
Battery life ⓘApproximately how long this cameras battery will last measured by how many photographs you will be able to take. |
420 shots1505000 | 400 shots1505000 |
| USB charging |  Yes | Yes |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Choose the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III if fast-action stills lead the purchase, from birds in flight to sports, where its 60 fps burst dwarfs the GH5 II's 12 fps. Its 60 fps maximum video frame rate keeps fast movement smoother on camera, and it is the lighter body at 580 g versus 727 g.
Choose the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II if video is central to your work, since its 6K capture gives cropping latitude the Olympus cannot match. Its finer viewfinder and rear screen and its 1/16000 second shutter favour precise framing and wide-aperture daylight shooting. Both share the Micro Four Thirds lens catalog, so lenses carry across either body.