Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic LX100 II

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2015 and August 2018. The E-M5 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the LX100 II is a fixed lens compact. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The Olympus has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 16.8 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Olympus E-M5 II		Panasonic LX100 II
Mirrorless system camera		Fixed lens compact camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses		24-75mm f/1.7-2.8
15.9 MP, Four Thirds Sensor		16.8 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
1080/60p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 200-25600		ISO 200-25600
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2764k dots)
3.0" LCD, 1037k dots		3.0" LCD, 1240k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Fixed touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second		11 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		Lens-based stabilization
Weathersealed body		Not weather sealed
310 shots per battery charge		300 shots per battery charge
124 x 85 x 45 mm, 469 g		115 x 66 x 65 mm, 392 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II? 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 side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-M5 II and the Panasonic LX100 II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-M5 II can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the LX100 II is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic LX100 II is notably smaller (28 percent) than the Olympus E-M5 II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the E-M5 II is splash and dust resistant, while the LX100 II does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the LX100 II has a lens built in, whereas the E-M5 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-M5 II and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the E-M5 II gets 310 shots out of its BLN-1 battery, while the LX100 II can take 300 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLG10 power pack. The power pack in the LX100 II 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 want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons 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
	Olympus E-M5 II»	4.9 in	3.3 in	1.8 in	16.5 oz	310	Y	Feb 2015	1,099			Olympus E-M5 II
	Panasonic LX100 II«	4.5 in	2.6 in	2.6 in	13.8 oz	300	n	Aug 2018	999			Panasonic LX100 II
	Leica D-LUX 7« »	4.5 in	2.6 in	2.6 in	13.8 oz	300	n	Nov 2018	1,195			Leica D-LUX 7
	Olympus PEN-F« »	4.9 in	2.8 in	1.5 in	15.1 oz	330	n	Jan 2016	1,199			Olympus PEN-F
	Olympus E-M10 II« »	4.7 in	3.3 in	1.9 in	13.8 oz	320	n	Aug 2015	649	-		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
	Olympus E-PL7« »	4.5 in	2.6 in	1.5 in	12.6 oz	350	n	Aug 2014	599	-		Olympus E-PL7
	Olympus E-M1« »	5.1 in	3.7 in	2.5 in	17.5 oz	350	Y	Sep 2013	1,399	-		Olympus E-M1
	Olympus E-P5« »	4.8 in	2.7 in	1.5 in	14.8 oz	330	n	May 2013	999	-		Olympus E-P5
	Olympus E-M5« »	4.8 in	3.5 in	1.7 in	15.0 oz	360	Y	Feb 2012	1,299	-		Olympus E-M5
	Panasonic GX9« »	4.9 in	2.8 in	1.9 in	14.4 oz	260	n	Feb 2018	849			Panasonic GX9
	Panasonic ZS70« »	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.6 in	11.4 oz	380	n	Apr 2017	449	-		Panasonic ZS70
	Panasonic G85« »	5.0 in	3.5 in	2.9 in	17.8 oz	330	Y	Sep 2016	899	-		Panasonic G85
	Panasonic GX85« »	4.8 in	2.8 in	1.7 in	15.0 oz	290	n	Apr 2016	799			Panasonic GX85
	Panasonic GX8« »	5.2 in	3.1 in	2.5 in	17.2 oz	330	Y	Jul 2015	1,199	-		Panasonic GX8
	Panasonic LX100« »	4.5 in	2.6 in	2.2 in	13.9 oz	300	n	Sep 2014	899			Panasonic LX100
	Panasonic GH2« »	4.9 in	3.5 in	3.0 in	15.6 oz	330	n	Sep 2010	899	-		Panasonic GH2
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Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The LX100 II was launched at a lower price than the E-M5 II, despite having a lens built in. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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 associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3. The LX100 II 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.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the LX100 II offers a slightly higher resolution of 16.8 megapixels, compared with 15.9 MP of the E-M5 II. This megapixels advantage translates into a 3 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the LX100 II has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.66μm versus 3.76μm for the E-M5 II). However, it should be noted that the LX100 II is much more recent (by 3 years and 6 months) than the E-M5 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the LX100 II has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

Unlike the LX100 II, the E-M5 II has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (40MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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.

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 LX100 II provides a better video resolution than the E-M5 II. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Olympus is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the LX100 II offers a higher resolution than the one in the E-M5 II (2764k vs 2360k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Olympus E-M5 II, the Panasonic LX100 II, and comparable cameras.

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-M5 II and the Panasonic LX100 II 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-M5 II and the LX100 II write their files to SDXC cards. The E-M5 II supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the LX100 II can use UHS-I cards (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-M5 Mark II and Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the E-M5 II has a microphone port, which is missing on the LX100 II. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-M5 II (unlike the LX100 II) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the E-M5 II and the LX100 II are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The E-M5 II replaced the earlier Olympus E-M5, while the LX100 II followed on from the Panasonic LX100. 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-M5 II and the Panasonic LX100 II? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.70x).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2015).

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• 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 detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2764k vs 2360k dots).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1240k vs 1037k dots).
• Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the E-M5 II necessitates an extra lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (115x66mm vs 124x85mm) 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-M5 II).
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 6 months of technical progress since the E-M5 II launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-M5 II comes out slightly ahead of the LX100 II (12 : 11 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports 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-M5 II and the Panasonic LX100 II 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 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 E-M5 II or the LX100 II perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Olympus E-M5 II»	+ +	81/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2015	1,099			Olympus E-M5 II
	Panasonic LX100 II«	+	82/100	4.5/5	-	4.5/5	Aug 2018	999			Panasonic LX100 II
	Leica D-LUX 7« »	-	-	-	-	4.5/5	Nov 2018	1,195			Leica D-LUX 7
	Olympus PEN-F« »	-	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	1,199			Olympus PEN-F
	Olympus E-M10 II« »	+ +	80/100	5/5	5/5	5/5	Aug 2015	649	-		Olympus E-M10 II
	Olympus E-M10« »	-	80/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	699	-		Olympus E-M10
	Olympus E-PL7« »	+	-	5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2014	599	-		Olympus E-PL7
	Olympus E-M1« »	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2013	1,399	-		Olympus E-M1
	Olympus E-P5« »	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	May 2013	999	-		Olympus E-P5
	Olympus E-M5« »	+ +	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Feb 2012	1,299	-		Olympus E-M5
	Panasonic GX9« »	+	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	849			Panasonic GX9
	Panasonic ZS70« »	+ +	-	4/5	-	4/5	Apr 2017	449	-		Panasonic ZS70
	Panasonic G85« »	+ +	84/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	899	-		Panasonic G85
	Panasonic GX85« »	+ +	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Apr 2016	799			Panasonic GX85
	Panasonic GX8« »	+	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	1,199	-		Panasonic GX8
	Panasonic LX100« »	+ +	85/100	5/5	4/5	5/5	Sep 2014	899			Panasonic LX100
	Panasonic GH2« »	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2010	899	-		Panasonic GH2
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (-) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. 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? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

Specifications: Olympus E-M5 II vs Panasonic LX100 II

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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