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Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
54
Imaging
73
Features
80
Overall
75
Nikon D800E front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs

Nikon D800E
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Succeeded the Nikon D700
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 II
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Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Nikon D800E versus Olympus E-M5, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Nikon and Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the D800E (36MP) and E-M5 (16MP) and the D800E (Full frame) and E-M5 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The D800E was unveiled 2 months after the E-M5 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Nikon D800E being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the D800E matches up vs the E-M5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D800E over the Olympus E-M5

 D800E E-M5 
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution921k610kCrisper display (+311k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Nikon D800E

 E-M5 D800E 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon D800E and Olympus E-M5

 D800E E-M5 
IntroducedJune 2012April 2012Same generation
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon D800E provides outside dimensions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M5 has proportions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D800E versus Olympus E-M5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the D800E compared to the E-M5.

Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the D800E and E-M5 is 54 and 81 respectively.

Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to see the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the D800E and E-M5.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The D800E with its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Nikon D800E will render greater detail having an extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a little more aggressively.

Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D800E as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
83
you can focus manually
MP count high (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D800E Street photography factors
Olympus E-M5 Street photography factors
60
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather proof
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D800E as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count high (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D800E
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
66
weather proof
MP count high (36 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
66
weather proof
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D800E Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
79
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
MP count high (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no low pass filter
saves RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
does not have image stabilization
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D800E Vlogging info
Olympus E-M5 Vlogging info
30
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
34
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Nikon D800E vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D800E and Olympus E-M5
 Nikon D800EOlympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon D800E Olympus OM-D E-M5
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-06-11 2012-04-30
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3 TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 7360 x 4912 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 51 35
Cross type focus points 15 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 309 107
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3.2" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 610 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.58x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 900 grams (1.98 lb) 425 grams (0.94 lb)
Dimensions 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 96 71
DXO Color Depth rating 25.6 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.3 12.3
DXO Low light rating 2979 826
Other
Battery life 900 images 360 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 2 One
Retail price $2,389 $799