• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600

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Differences

Olympus E-5 advantages over Panasonic GH4

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 870 vs 530 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility

Panasonic GH4 advantages over Olympus E-5

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 720p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Higher effective ISO
    791 vs 519 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.8 vs 10.5 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Lighter weight
    569g vs 892g
    Lighter weight
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.67x vs 0.58x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    16.1 vs 12.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    12.8 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent still image quality for its class; Fantastic, highly-detailed video quality; Superior video recording chops with 4K video (both Cinema 4K and Ultra HD); Responsive all-around performer with great AF performance and burst shooting; Rolling shutter is minimal with 60p and 30p video; Splash- and dust-proof magnesium alloy body; Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC.

  • High ISO performance not as good as some APS-C models (IQ drops quickly past ISO 3200); Overall still image quality not significantly better than the GH3; Sluggish buffer clearing with RAW files; Rolling shutter noticeable on 4K video; Not as compact as most mirrorless cameras.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 50D

Olympus E-5
Canon 50D
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Panasonic GH4
Canon 50D
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1000
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Olympus E30

Olympus E-5
Olympus E30
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • Longer stills battery life
  • HDMI out
  • $1299
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Lighter weight
Panasonic GH4
Olympus E30
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
  • $1299
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Olympus E-5
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • Top deck display
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor
Panasonic GH4
Sony DSLR-A550
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $859
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Panasonic GH3

Olympus E-5
Panasonic GH3
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
Panasonic GH4
Panasonic GH3
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $798
  • 4/3

Compared to Panasonic G7

Olympus E-5
Panasonic G7
  • $1700
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $665
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Lens selection
Panasonic GH4
Panasonic G7
  • $998
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $665
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
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