Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II vs Panasonic Lumix DC-GX800 — Which Is Better?
Side by side47 specifications |
Olympus · Mirrorless · 16.1 MP · Micro Four Thirds · Full HD video
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
59
WINNER
|
Panasonic · Mirrorless · 16 MP · Micro Four Thirds · 4K video
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX800
51
SCORE
|
|---|---|---|
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| General | ||
Read the General ComparisonGeneralThe Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is the larger, more complete stills body of the pair, while the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX800, released two years later in 2017, is the compact carry-everywhere option. It measures 107 x 65 x 33 mm against the Olympus's 124 x 85 x 45 mm. Both are mirrorless cameras on the Micro Four Thirds mount, so any Micro 4/3 lens fits either body. | ||
Released ⓘRefers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale. |
2015 | 2017 |
Announcement date ⓘRefers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera. |
February 5, 2015 | January 4, 2017 |
| Camera type |  Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Camera size | 124 x 85 x 45 mm | 107 x 65 x 33 mm |
| Camera weight | 469 g | 269 g |
| Optics | 58/100 | 53/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsHandheld stills in dim light favour the E-M5 Mark II, the only one of the pair with in-body stabilisation. It also gives you an eye-level electronic viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots and 81 autofocus points, against 49 on the GX800, which has no viewfinder at all. The GX800 answers with a shorter exposure limit of 1/16000 second versus 1/8000, helpful for wide apertures in strong daylight. Resolution is effectively matched at 16.1 versus 16 megapixels, and both shoot at up to 10 fps. Each uses a Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with a native ISO range of 200 to 25600. | ||
Megapixels ⓘThe higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture. |
16.1 MP050 | 16 MP050 |
Image resolution ⓘImage resolution is measured in pixels and megapixels, width by height. The higher the number, the higher its resolution. |
4608 x 3456 | 4592 x 3448 |
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. |
13 x 17.3 | 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. |
10 fps045 | 10 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 VII | 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 | 20030200 |
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. |
10030200 | 10030200 |
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. |
810300 | 490300 |
In-body stabilisation ⓘIn-body Stabilization means the camera has a certain technology embedded that counteracts camera shake. |
 Yes | No |
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 | None |
| Viewfinder dots | 236000009900000 | N/A |
| Video | 70/100 | 70/100 |
Read the Video ComparisonVideo4K recording makes the GX800 the stronger choice for video, with finer detail and more room to crop a clip in editing before quality suffers. The E-M5 Mark II caps its recording at Full HD. Frame-rate ceilings differ in the other direction, with the Olympus supporting up to 60 fps against 30 fps on the Panasonic for smoother motion playback. Both also include a built-in timelapse mode, so interval shooting needs no external controller. | ||
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. |
 Full HD |  4K |
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. |
1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2160 |
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. |
MOV, AVI | AVCHD, MP4 |
| Features | 70/100 | 57/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesA hot shoe and weather sealing make the E-M5 Mark II the better base for outdoor and flash work. It supports external flash units and is weather-sealed, while the GX800 has neither but carries a built-in flash for casual fill light. The two share a 3-inch touch LCD that flips out for waist-level and self-framed shots, plus Wi-Fi for transferring images to a phone. Neither offers GPS or Bluetooth. | ||
Builtin flash ⓘA built-in flash will often be positioned right above the lens. This will automatically pop up when you activate it. |
No |  Yes |
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 | No |
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 | No |
| Screen type | 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 | 10400001150001500000 |
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. |
✗ | ✗ |
| Storage & battery | 21/100 | 13/100 |
Read the Storage & battery ComparisonStorage and BatteryThe E-M5 Mark II holds the endurance advantage, rated for 310 shots per charge against 210 for the GX800. Card choice differs in kind: the Olympus takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, while the Panasonic uses microSD, which also fits many phones. Each has a single card slot, and neither charges its battery over USB. | ||
| Memory card | SD / SDHC / SDXC | microSD / SDHC / SDXC |
| Dual memory card slots | ✗ | ✗ |
| Battery type | BLN-1 | DMW-BLH7 |
Battery life ⓘApproximately how long this cameras battery will last measured by how many photographs you will be able to take. |
310 shots1505000 | 210 shots1505000 |
| USB charging | ✗ | ✗ |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Choose the E-M5 Mark II for handheld stills, outdoor landscape and travel photography, or any work that needs an eye-level viewfinder, in-body stabilisation, weather sealing and a hot shoe for flash. The GX800 is the better pick for a pocketable everyday camera and for 4K video, weighing 200 g less at 269 g with a built-in flash. Since both use the Micro Four Thirds mount, your lenses carry over either way.