Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic LX15

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 (labelled Panasonic LX10 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in August 2015 and September 2016. The E-M10 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the LX15 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (E-M10 II) and an one-inch (LX15) sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Olympus E-M10 II		Panasonic LX15
Mirrorless system camera		Fixed lens compact camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses		24-72mm f/1.4-2.8
15.9 MP, Four Thirds Sensor		20 MP, 1" Sensor
1080/60p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 200-25,600		ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
320 shots per battery charge		260 shots per battery charge
120 x 83 x 47 mm, 390 g		106 x 60 x 42 mm, 310 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-M10 II and the Panasonic LX15 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-M10 II can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, brown), while the LX15 is available in two color-versions (black, silver).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic LX15 is considerably smaller (36 percent) than the Olympus E-M10 II. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the E-M10 II nor the LX15 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the LX15 has a lens built in, whereas the E-M10 II is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-M10 II and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the E-M10 II gets 320 shots out of its BLS-50 battery, while the LX15 can take 260 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLH7 power pack. The power pack in the LX15 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)		Street Price
1.		Olympus E-M10 II	120 mm	83 mm	47 mm	390 g	320	n	Aug 2015	649
2.		Panasonic LX15	106 mm	60 mm	42 mm	310 g	260	n	Sep 2016	699
3.		Canon G7 X Mark II	106 mm	61 mm	42 mm	319 g	265	n	Feb 2016	699
4.		Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	799
5.		Olympus E-PL9	117 mm	68 mm	39 mm	380 g	350	n	Feb 2018	599
6.		Olympus E-M10 III	122 mm	84 mm	50 mm	410 g	330	n	Aug 2017	649
7.		Olympus E-PL8	115 mm	67 mm	38 mm	357 g	350	n	Sep 2016	549
8.		Olympus PEN-F	125 mm	72 mm	37 mm	427 g	330	n	Jan 2016	1,199
9.		Olympus E-M5 II	124 mm	85 mm	45 mm	469 g	310	Y	Feb 2015	1,099
10.		Olympus E-M10	119 mm	82 mm	46 mm	396 g	320	n	Jan 2014	699
11.		Olympus E-PL7	115 mm	67 mm	38 mm	357 g	350	n	Aug 2014	599
12.		Olympus E-P5	122 mm	69 mm	37 mm	420 g	330	n	May 2013	999
13.		Olympus E-PL5	111 mm	64 mm	38 mm	325 g	360	n	Sep 2012	599
14.		Panasonic TZ200	111 mm	65 mm	45 mm	340 g	370	n	Feb 2018	799
15.		Panasonic TZ90	112 mm	67 mm	41 mm	322 g	380	n	Apr 2017	449
16.		Panasonic GX80	122 mm	71 mm	44 mm	426 g	290	n	Apr 2016	799
17.		Panasonic TZ100	111 mm	65 mm	44 mm	312 g	300	n	Jan 2016	699
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and 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 Olympus E-M10 II features a Four Thirds sensor and the Panasonic LX15 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the LX15 is 48 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 2.7. The sensor in the E-M10 II has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the LX15 offers a 3:2 aspect. The LX15 has the particularity of featuring a switch that allows to toggle between multiple aspect ratios, while maintaining the same field of view and full image resolution.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the LX15 offers a higher resolution of 20 megapixels, compared with 15.9 MP of the E-M10 II. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 3.76μm for the E-M10 II). However, it should be noted that the LX15 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year) than the E-M10 II, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that partly offset its pixel-size disadvantage. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the E-M10 II has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic LX15 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the LX15 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-M10 II are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports		DXO Overall
1.		Olympus E-M10 II	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	23.1	12.5	842		73
2.		Panasonic LX15	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
3.		Canon G7 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..		..
4.		Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..		..
5.		Olympus E-PL9	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
6.		Olympus E-M10 III	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
7.		Olympus E-PL8	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..		..
8.		Olympus PEN-F	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	23.1	12.4	894		74
9.		Olympus E-M5 II	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	23.0	12.5	842		73
10.		Olympus E-M10	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	22.8	12.3	884		72
11.		Olympus E-PL7	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	22.7	12.4	873		72
12.		Olympus E-P5	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	22.8	12.4	895		72
13.		Olympus E-PL5	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	22.8	12.3	889		72
14.		Panasonic TZ200	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
15.		Panasonic TZ90	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	19.1	10.6	106		36
16.		Panasonic GX80	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	4K/30p	22.9	12.6	662		71
17.		Panasonic TZ100	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.5	559		70

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the LX15 provides a better video resolution than the E-M10 II. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-M10 II has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the LX15 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-M10 II, the Panasonic LX15, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Olympus E-M10 II	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	Y
2.		Panasonic LX15	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y
3.		Canon G7 X Mark II	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	8.0	Y	Y
4.		Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9	Y	Y
5.		Olympus E-PL9	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.6	Y	Y
6.		Olympus E-M10 III	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.6	Y	Y
7.		Olympus E-PL8	optional	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	n	Y
8.		Olympus PEN-F	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
9.		Olympus E-M5 II	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
10.		Olympus E-M10	1440	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	Y
11.		Olympus E-PL7	optional	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	n	Y
12.		Olympus E-P5	optional	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	Y	Y
13.		Olympus E-PL5	optional	n	3.0	460	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	n	Y
14.		Panasonic TZ200	2330	n	3.0	1240	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
15.		Panasonic TZ90	1166	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic GX80	2765	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	Y
17.		Panasonic TZ100	1166	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Olympus E-M10 II and the Panasonic LX15 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the E-M10 II and the LX15 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Olympus E-M10 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Panasonic LX15	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon G7 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon G5 X	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Olympus E-PL9	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Olympus E-M10 III	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Olympus E-PL8	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Olympus PEN-F	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Olympus E-M5 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Olympus E-M10	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Olympus E-PL7	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Olympus E-P5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
13.		Olympus E-PL5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Panasonic TZ200	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
15.		Panasonic TZ90	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Panasonic GX80	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
17.		Panasonic TZ100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-

It is notable that the E-M10 II has a hotshoe, while the LX15 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

The LX15 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the E-M10 II has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the E-M10 II was succeeded by the Olympus E-M10 III. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Olympus and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Olympus E-M10 II and the Panasonic LX15? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (320 versus 260) on a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in August 2015).

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 14%.
• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Flexible image proportions: Has a multi-aspect sensor that allows for alternative image shapes.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the E-M10 II necessitates an extra lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (106x60mm vs 120x83mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the E-M10 II).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year) more recently.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the LX15 comes out slightly ahead of the E-M10 II (11 : 10 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-M10 II and the Panasonic LX15 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Travel-Zoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the E-M10 II or the LX15. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)			Street Price
1.		Olympus E-M10 II	4.5/5	+ +	80/100	5/5	5/5	Aug 2015	649
2.		Panasonic LX15	..	+ +	81/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	699
3.		Canon G7 X Mark II	4.5/5	+ +	81/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	699
4.		Canon G5 X	5/5	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	799
5.		Olympus E-PL9	..	+	..	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2018	599
6.		Olympus E-M10 III	..	+	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2017	649
7.		Olympus E-PL8	..	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2016	549
8.		Olympus PEN-F	..	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	1,199
9.		Olympus E-M5 II	5/5	+ +	81/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2015	1,099
10.		Olympus E-M10	4/5	..	80/100	5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	699
11.		Olympus E-PL7	4/5	+	..	5/5	4/5	Aug 2014	599
12.		Olympus E-P5	5/5	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2013	999
13.		Olympus E-PL5	3/5	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	599
14.		Panasonic TZ200	..	+ +	81/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	799
15.		Panasonic TZ90	..	+ +	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	449
16.		Panasonic GX80	4.5/5	+ +	82/100	5/5	5/5	Apr 2016	799
17.		Panasonic TZ100	4.5/5	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	699
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

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.

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Specifications: Olympus E-M10 II vs Panasonic LX15

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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