Olympus PEN E-P5 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 — Which Is Better?

The Olympus PEN E-P5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 are both 2013 mirrorless cameras built around the Micro Four Thirds system, so any Micro 4/3 lens you already own fits either body. Their resolution is effectively matched at 16.1 versus 16 megapixels, and both carry a native ISO range of 200 to 25600, which keeps their core stills settings closely aligned on paper. Neither camera includes a built-in viewfinder, so both are framed through the rear screen.

Where they differ is body philosophy. The E-P5 measures 122 x 69 x 37 mm and weighs 420 g, while the GM1 is far smaller at 99 x 55 x 30 mm and 204 g, making the Panasonic the clear choice for a jacket pocket or an always-carried travel kit. The Olympus is the more substantial body, and the differences that matter for shooting appear below.

The E-P5 is the stronger choice for handheld low-light and moving-subject work. It offers in-body stabilisation, which keeps shutter speeds usable with unstabilised primes, and it shoots at 9 fps against 5 fps on the GM1, giving more frames from a burst of a moving child or pet. Its 35 autofocus points against 23 on the Panasonic also spread coverage wider across the frame.

The GM1 answers with the shorter exposure ceiling, supporting 1/16000 second against the E-P5's 1/8000, which helps keep wide apertures usable in bright sun. Their resolution is effectively a match at 16.1 versus 16 megapixels, so cropping latitude is practically identical. The E-P5's expanded settings reach ISO 100, a touch below the GM1's expanded ISO 125, for slightly longer exposures on a tripod.

The GM1 is the better pick for smoother motion in Full HD, recording at up to 60 fps where the E-P5 tops out at 30 fps. That doubled frame rate lets Panasonic footage be slowed to half speed for walking subjects or casual action, and it renders camera pans more smoothly. Both cameras cap out at Full HD resolution, so neither offers 4K cropping room.

File handling differs: the GM1 records in MP4 and AVCHD, while the E-P5 writes MOV and AVI, which matters mainly for which editor or device takes the files most directly. Both include built-in timelapse, so interval work needs no external trigger on either body.

The E-P5 is the more expandable body for flash work. It supports an external flash in addition to its built-in unit, while the GM1 offers only the built-in flash, so bounce lighting and stronger output are Olympus-only options here. On shared ground, both provide Wi-Fi for wireless transfer to a phone, touch control on a 3-inch LCD of essentially equal resolution, and live view.

Neither camera has GPS or weather sealing, so location tagging and rain protection are absent from both. Neither screen flips or rotates, which limits waist-level and selfie framing on either body.

The E-P5 holds the rated endurance advantage, at 330 shots against 230 on the GM1 under their respective test conditions. For a long day of sightseeing or an event, the GM1's lower rating leaves less rated margin, while the Olympus BLN-2 carries more headroom on paper. Neither battery charges over USB, so both need a charger or a second cell.

Storage matches exactly: both use a single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot, so cards and card-buying plans carry over between them.