Fujifilm X-E2S versus Panasonic GX80

The Fujifilm X-E2S and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 (labelled Panasonic GX85 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2016 and April 2016. Both the X-E2S and the GX80 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (X-E2S) and a Four Thirds (GX80) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 16 megapixel, whereas the Panasonic provides 15.8 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Fujifilm X-E2S vs Panasonic GX80

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm X-E2S and the Panasonic GX80. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. If you prefer, you can also use the toggle button to switch to a comparison in percentage terms (in this case, the camera on the left – the X-E2S – represents 100 percent across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic GX80 is notably smaller (10 percent) than the Fujifilm X-E2S. However, the GX80 is markedly heavier (22 percent) than the X-E2S. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the X-E2S nor the GX80 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can find an overview of optics for the two cameras in the Fujinon X Lens Catalog (X-E2S) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (GX80). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the X-E2S gets 350 shots out of its NP-W126 battery, while the GX80 can take 290 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLG10 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Fujifilm X-E2S»	5.1 in	3.0 in	1.5 in	12.3 oz	350	n	Jan 2016	699	-		Fujifilm X-E2S
	Panasonic GX80«	4.8 in	2.8 in	1.7 in	15.0 oz	290	n	Apr 2016	799			Panasonic GX80
	Fujifilm X-E3« »	4.8 in	2.9 in	1.7 in	11.9 oz	350	n	Sep 2017	899			Fujifilm X-E3
	Fujifilm X-T20« »	4.6 in	3.3 in	1.6 in	13.5 oz	350	n	Jan 2017	899			Fujifilm X-T20
	Fujifilm X70« »	4.4 in	2.5 in	1.7 in	12.0 oz	330	n	Jan 2016	799	-		Fujifilm X70
	Fujifilm X-A3« »	4.6 in	2.6 in	1.6 in	12.0 oz	410	n	Aug 2016	399			Fujifilm X-A3
	Fujifilm X-A10« »	4.6 in	2.6 in	1.6 in	11.7 oz	410	n	Dec 2016	399			Fujifilm X-A10
	Fujifilm X-A2« »	4.6 in	2.6 in	1.6 in	12.3 oz	410	n	Jan 2015	399	-		Fujifilm X-A2
	Fujifilm X-T10« »	4.6 in	3.3 in	1.6 in	13.4 oz	350	n	May 2015	799	-		Fujifilm X-T10
	Fujifilm X-E2« »	5.1 in	3.0 in	1.5 in	12.3 oz	350	n	Oct 2013	999	-		Fujifilm X-E2
	Fujifilm X-M1« »	4.6 in	2.6 in	1.5 in	11.6 oz	350	n	Jun 2013	699	-		Fujifilm X-M1
	Olympus E-M10 II« »	4.7 in	3.3 in	1.9 in	13.8 oz	320	n	Aug 2015	799	-		Olympus E-M10 II
	Olympus E-M10« »	4.7 in	3.2 in	1.8 in	14.0 oz	320	n	Jan 2014	699	-		Olympus E-M10
	Panasonic GX9« »	4.9 in	2.8 in	1.9 in	14.4 oz	260	n	Feb 2018	849			Panasonic GX9
	Panasonic G80« »	5.0 in	3.5 in	2.9 in	17.8 oz	330	Y	Sep 2016	899			Panasonic G80
	Panasonic G7« »	4.9 in	3.4 in	3.0 in	14.5 oz	350	n	May 2015	649	-		Panasonic G7
	Panasonic GX7« »	4.8 in	2.8 in	2.2 in	14.2 oz	350	n	Aug 2013	999	-		Panasonic GX7
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The X-E2S was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 13 percent) than the GX80, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Fujifilm X-E2S vs Panasonic GX80

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm X-E2S features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic GX80 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the GX80 is 39 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 2.0. The sensor in the X-E2S has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the GX80 offers a 4:3 aspect.

In terms of underlying technology, both cameras are build around CMOS sensors.

With 16MP, the X-E2S offers a slightly higher resolution than the GX80 (15.8MP), but the X-E2S nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.80μm versus 3.77μm for the GX80) due to its larger sensor. It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the GX80 provides a better video resolution than the X-E2S. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison: Fujifilm X-E2S vs Panasonic GX80

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the GX80 offers a higher resolution than the one in the X-E2S (2765k vs 2360k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Fujifilm X-E2S and Panasonic GX80 along with similar information for a selection of comparators. The full specs-sheets can be found in the camera manual or in the dpreview camera hub.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The GX80 has a touchscreen, while the X-E2S has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed and shutter burst refer to the use of the mechanical shutter. In addition, both cameras feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (flickering).

Both the X-E2S and the GX80 write their imaging data to SDXC cards.

The GX80 is a current model that online retailers, such as amazon, will have in stock. In contrast, the X-E2S has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the X-E2S was succeeded by the Fujifilm X-E3.

Review summary: Fujifilm X-E2S vs Panasonic GX80

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Fujifilm X-E2S and the Panasonic GX80? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm X-E2S:

• Better low-light imaging: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for better high-ISO images.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 76g or 18 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (350 versus 290) on a single battery charge.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (13 percent cheaper at launch).

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80:

• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2765k vs 2360k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (122x71mm vs 129x75mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology build-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GX80 emerges as the winner of the match-up (8 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the X-E2S or the GX80 handle or perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The detailed reviews can be accessed by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Fujifilm X-E2S»	-	77/100	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Jan 2016	699	-		Fujifilm X-E2S
	Panasonic GX80«	HiRec	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Apr 2016	799			Panasonic GX80
	Fujifilm X-E3« »	Rec	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2017	899			Fujifilm X-E3
	Fujifilm X-T20« »	HiRec	82/100	5/5	-	4.5/5	Jan 2017	899			Fujifilm X-T20
	Fujifilm X70« »	-	76/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	799	-		Fujifilm X70
	Fujifilm X-A3« »	-	74/100	4.5/5	-	4/5	Aug 2016	399			Fujifilm X-A3
	Fujifilm X-A10« »	-	-	4/5	-	4/5	Dec 2016	399			Fujifilm X-A10
	Fujifilm X-A2« »	-	-	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	399	-		Fujifilm X-A2
	Fujifilm X-T10« »	HiRec	80/100	5/5	4/5	5/5	May 2015	799	-		Fujifilm X-T10
	Fujifilm X-E2« »	-	80/100	4.5/5	-	5/5	Oct 2013	999	-		Fujifilm X-E2
	Fujifilm X-M1« »	Rec	77/100	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Jun 2013	699	-		Fujifilm X-M1
	Olympus E-M10 II« »	HiRec	80/100	5/5	5/5	5/5	Aug 2015	799	-		Olympus E-M10 II
	Olympus E-M10« »	-	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	699	-		Olympus E-M10
	Panasonic GX9« »	Rec	84/100	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Feb 2018	849			Panasonic GX9
	Panasonic G80« »	HiRec	84/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	899			Panasonic G80
	Panasonic G7« »	HiRec	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	May 2015	649	-		Panasonic G7
	Panasonic GX7« »	Rec	79/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2013	999	-		Panasonic GX7

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored. If the camera you are interested in is not available, please send me an email, and I will try to update the database with the necessary infos.

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