Olympus OM-D E-M1X vs Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 — Which Is Better?

The Olympus OM-D E-M1X and Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 are both Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, so every Micro 4/3 lens fits either body without adaptation. That shared mount keeps the full native lens range open whichever camera you buy.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 is the lighter, more compact option for travel and all-day carrying, at 139 x 98 x 87 mm and 725 g. The Olympus, released in 2019 two years after the Panasonic, measures 144 x 147 x 75 mm and weighs 997 g, which is 272 g more.

The E-M1X is the clear choice for capturing peak action, offering a 60 fps maximum burst rate against 12 fps on the GH5. For a bird taking off or a sprinter mid-stride, that extra speed gives many more chances at the decisive frame.

Resolution is a near tie at 20 MP against 20.3 MP, so the room to crop a distant subject is effectively the same. The GH5 counters with 225 autofocus points against 121, a fastest shutter speed of 1/16000 second for wide apertures in bright light, and a more detailed electronic viewfinder with 3,680,000 dots against 2,360,000. Both cameras offer in-body stabilisation for handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds.

Both cameras share the same video ceiling, with a 4K maximum resolution and a 60 fps maximum frame rate on each. Neither body gives an editor more cropping room or a higher frame-rate ceiling than the other. File support is similar, with MOV on both alongside MPEG-4 on the E-M1X and MP4 on the GH5.

The E-M1X is more convenient for interval shooting because it has timelapse built in, while the GH5 leaves that work to post-production. A landscape photographer capturing a sunset compressing hours into seconds can start immediately on the Olympus.

The E-M1X gives location-aware shooters an edge with built-in GPS, tagging every wildlife or travel photo with coordinates, while the GH5 offers none. It also carries a built-in flash for quick fill light, whereas the GH5 instead supports an external flash for stronger, more directional lighting.

The GH5's rear screen is the more useful for checking focus and detail, with a 3.2 inch display at 1,620,000 dots versus 3 inches and 1,037,000 dots on the E-M1X. Both offer touch control, a flipping screen for waist-level and overhead angles, weather sealing for outdoor work, and Wi-Fi with Bluetooth for remote control and image transfer.

The E-M1X is the stronger choice for a full day of shooting, rated for 870 shots from its two BLH-1 batteries, against 410 shots from the GH5's single DMW-BLF19. It also supports USB charging, so a power bank can top it up between locations, which the GH5 cannot do.

Storage is a shared strength, with both cameras accepting SD, SDHC and SDXC cards across two UHS-II compatible slots. Two fast cards give the same capacity and speed for long shoots on either body.