Nikon Z5 vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 II: A Hands-On Comparison for Discerning Photographers

In the realm of advanced mirrorless cameras, the Nikon Z5 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 II remain appealing choices - and yet, they belong to somewhat different universes. The Nikon Z5, with its full-frame sensor and modern ergonomics, enters a competitive segment battling for relevance against stalwarts and newcomers alike; meanwhile, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II, a Micro Four Thirds model now several years old, touts its own distinctive features and value proposition.

I’ve spent considerable time with both bodies, putting them through the paces across a wide photographic spectrum - from portraiture to wildlife to travel shooting. In this detailed, hands-on comparison, I’ll peel back the numbers to reveal how these two cameras perform in real life, dissecting usability, image quality, autofocus, video capabilities, and much more. My goal: provide an authoritative and practical guide so you can confidently identify which camera - and sensor system - best suits your creative vision and budget.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

Let’s start with what you feel in your hands - because no matter how good the specs, if a camera feels unwieldy or uncomfortable, it’s a deal-breaker for many photographers.

The Nikon Z5 has the classic SLR-style mirrorless design Nikon fans will find familiar. At 134x101x70 mm and 675 grams, it’s solid yet balanced. Its deeper grip and more generous handhold make it comfortable for extended shooting sessions. I appreciate the reassuring heft that instills confidence without fatiguing the wrist - a sweet spot between portability and professional presence.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II, by contrast, is more compact and significantly lighter at 469 grams with 124x85x45 mm dimensions. It exudes a sporty, retro charm - a “pocketable” tool for street shooters and travelers prioritizing portability. However, its smaller grip can challenge users with larger hands or when wielding bigger lenses, particularly telephotos.

Looking at the controls, the Nikon Z5 offers a neat, modern layout with dual command dials, a well-marked mode dial, and nicely spaced buttons. The camera feels intuitive, accommodating both newcomers and seasoned pros. Meanwhile, Olympus has a more traditional OM-D-style control scheme with a dedicated AF mode switch and a top display - features that experienced Olympus shooters cherish for fast access to settings.

The Z5’s tilting 3.2-inch touch screen with 1.04 million dots feels more responsive and spacious than the E-M5 II’s 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen, which has slightly lower resolution. I tend to prefer articulating screens (especially for low or overhead angles), but the Z5’s touchscreen benefits from superior clarity and touch responsiveness.

In short: ergonomically, the Nikon Z5 is built with modern refinement and a comfortable grip, while Olympus E-M5 II excels in portability and accessibility for casual to enthusiast shooters who prize compactness.

A Sensor Showdown: Full Frame vs Micro Four Thirds

Sensor size is always a decisive factor - and here the 35.9x23.9 mm full-frame CMOS sensor of the Nikon Z5 immediately stands out against Olympus’s smaller 17.3x13 mm Four Thirds MOS sensor, more than half the surface area.

With 24 megapixels, the Z5 offers a resolution sweet spot for most photographers - not too high for file management woes, yet finely detailed. The E-M5 II’s 16-megapixel sensor is lower in resolution but still capable, and Olympus has long been praised for optimizing their sensor readout and processing to extract punchy, vibrant images.

That said, sensor size impacts more than just pixels: full frame sensors usually deliver superior dynamic range, lower noise in high ISO, and more natural bokeh due to wider aperture potential and shallower depth of field. On paper, Nikon’s Z5 current-generation EXPEED 6 processor further enhances noise reduction and color fidelity compared to Olympus’s older TruePic VII engine.

In practical tests, this means the Z5 is more versatile for low light, wide dynamic range landscapes, and portraiture needing subtle skin tone renders and creamy backgrounds. The Olympus sensor’s smaller pixel pitch and less forgiving ISO performance do limit pushing shadows and highlights. Still, Olympus offers an impressive 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system, mitigating some telephoto shake.

Autofocus Performance: Precision and Speed in the Field

Autofocus (AF) systems tend to separate cameras in everyday use. I tested continuous AF, single-shot sharpness, eye and animal detection, and low-light focusing capabilities on both cameras.

The Nikon Z5 boasts 273 on-sensor phase-detect points, covering a wide area and capable of reliable eye and animal detection - features increasingly important for portrait and wildlife shooters. It performs well in continuous tracking (albeit its modest 4.5 fps frame rate caps burst shooting), maintaining lock on moving subjects in decent light.

Olympus’s contrast-detection-only 81-point AF system lacks phase detection and eye AF but compensates somewhat with faster burst rates up to 10 fps and a sharp, peppy manual focus assist system. While less cutting edge by today’s standards, the E-M5 II’s AF can be excellent for street and casual wildlife photography, especially with good lighting.

I observed that in low-light or fast-action sports scenarios, the Nikon Z5 pulled ahead with consistent autofocus accuracy and face/eye tracking. The Olympus struggled to maintain AF tracking in complex environments but rewarded users with speedy SSD write times and a snappy interface.

Image Quality in Different Photography Genres

Understanding the cameras’ capabilities across genres guides where they best fit.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh

The Nikon Z5’s full-frame sensor helps render skin tones with subtle nuance and natural warmth - a hallmark Nikon is known for. Its ability to separate the subject from background with pleasing bokeh is heightened by the wide aperture lenses native to the Z mount system.

Though the Olympus E-M5 II delivers respectable portrait work, its smaller sensor limits shallow depth of field options. The micro four thirds lens landscape offers many options, but ultimate background separation remains a challenge if you want dreamy, soft backgrounds.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Here, the Z5’s sensor shines. The 24MP images from this camera reveal exceptional detail, and the sensor’s dynamic range means recovering shadows and highlights is less precarious in bright or high contrast scenes. Coupled with weather sealing and rugged build, the Nikon Z5 is a trustworthy companion for serious landscape shooters.

The Olympus E-M5 II also features weather sealing, albeit with lower resolution and less dynamic range. It excels in portability, ideal for hikers or spontaneous outdoor photographers, but after heavy raw processing, images may reveal sensor limitations.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus and Burst Rates

Nikon Z5 autofocus speed and 4.5 fps shooting are liminal at best for aggressive wildlife and sports photography, but its full-frame sensor and native long lenses can produce exquisite results for wildlife portraits and nature. Burst speed is below spectrum-leading competition, so action shooters might find it limiting over longer sessions.

Olympus’s 10 fps burst speed is competitive, paired with a lens range rich in telephoto options for the micro four thirds mount, aided by in-body stabilization. For fast-moving subjects at moderate distances, E-M5 II’s responsiveness keeps you in the game.

Street Photography: Discretion and Low-Light Performance

The Olympus E-M5 II’s compact size and quiet shutter modes lend well to candid shooting. Its smaller sensor and fast lenses provide adequate low-light performance - even if noise rises earlier. The relatively discreet profile is an advantage for urban environments.

The Nikon Z5, while more noticeable, delivers cleaner images and better ISO latitude, ideal when you're working in tricky light and want the best image quality possible.

Macro Photography: Stabilization and Precision

Both bodies offer sensor-based 5-axis IS, but Olympus’s system is known more for fine stabilization across lenses, useful in macro shooting to reduce handshake and enhance focus precision during slow, deliberate captures.

The Z5’s stabilization benefits telephoto as well, but its size and bulk may complicate handheld macro work.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO and Exposure

The Nikon Z5 excels in high ISO performance, with less noise at up to 51200 ISO native and some flexibility in boosting. It offers longer shutter speeds (up to 30 sec) to capture star trails, while the Olympus limits minimum shutter speed to 60 seconds but benefits more from stacking techniques and in-camera exposure bracketing.

Video Capabilities: What Each Camera Brings to the Table

Video on these cameras also reflects their design era and target markets.

The Nikon Z5 supports 4K UHD at up to 30p and full HD at 60p, with uncompressed HDMI output, dual micro ports (microphone and headphones), and stabilized footage via sensor-IS. Its video-focused features such as zebra stripes and focus peaking are useful but not as extensive as rivals geared toward video professionals.

Olympus E-M5 II tops out at Full HD 1080p up to 60p, lacking 4K altogether. It offers microphone input but no headphone jack. Stabilization is a strong point and helps generate very smooth handheld clips in Full HD.

Given this, the Nikon Z5 is better suited to hybrid shooters who want high-quality video plus stills, while the Olympus suits casual filmmakers and vloggers demanding compactness.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Both cameras are weather sealed but not ruggedized against crush, shock, or freezing temps.

Nikon’s build feels more robust for professional day-to-day use; its magnesium alloy frame and sealed buttons provide confidence on field shoots. The Olympus E-M5 II is well sealed and lighter but with more plastic in its body construction, making it ideal for enthusiasts who want some weather resistance without professional-grade toughness.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

The Z5’s EN-EL15c battery delivers roughly 470 shots per charge - impressive for a mirrorless body - enabling longer shooting sessions without frequent recharging.

Olympus E-M5 II’s BLN-1 battery yields around 310 shots, typical of its generation. The smaller form factor contributes to shorter endurance.

The Nikon also sports dual SD card slots (UHS II compatible), offering backup or overflow options invaluable to pros. Olympus E-M5 II supports only one card, which may concern shooters needing redundancy.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Lens availability is a practical pillar of any system’s appeal.

Nikon Z5 front Nikon Z5 screen back Olympus E M5 II front Olympus E M5 II screen back

The Nikon Z mount is relatively new, initially launching with 15 lenses and growing steadily - with high-quality primes and zooms designed for full-frame excellence. The Z5’s ability to mount F-mount DSLR lenses via an adapter expands options dramatically, covering virtually any shooting style.

Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount enjoys a mature and extensive lens line-up, currently exceeding 100 lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties. The shorter flange distance, smaller sensor, and compact lens designs enable lightweight, affordable optics with good optical performance, albeit with limitations on absolute resolution and bokeh capacity.

Connectivity and Other Features

Connectivity in the Nikon Z5 is modern and comprehensive, featuring built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for rapid file transfer and smartphone tethering.

Olympus E-M5 II lacks Bluetooth and supports Wi-Fi only. Its USB 2.0 port is slower than the Z5’s USB-C interface.

The Z5 includes an illuminated ring around the shutter button (configurable), which is subtle but practical in dark environments. Neither camera has GPS modules embedded.

Price and Value: What You Get for Your Budget

As of this writing, Nikon Z5 retails around $1,399 body only, while Olympus E-M5 II can be found near $699 used or discounted new.

While Nikon’s higher price reflects its newer technology, larger sensor, and broader feature set, Olympus’s lower cost and large lens selection present compelling value - especially for photographers prioritizing portability and budget.

Photography Genre Scorecard: Matching Cameras to Needs

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Both the Nikon Z5 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 II have distinct strengths, tailored to different photographic sensibilities and budgets.

If you seek a modern, full-frame system with excellent image quality, reliable autofocus, advanced video options, and rugged build, the Nikon Z5 is a compelling entry-level full-frame mirrorless. It performs across disciplines equally well and promises future-proofing thanks to newer firmware and growing lens selections. Its dual card slots and extended battery life also suit professional or semi-professional workflows.

Conversely, if portability, fast frame rates, and a broad, compact lens selection are paramount - particularly for street, travel, or casual wildlife shooting - Olympus E-M5 II offers tremendous bang for your buck, albeit with some concessions in low-light image quality and autofocus tech. It’s an outstanding choice for enthusiasts who prize lightweight gear and don’t need 4K video or full-frame performance.

I’d encourage prospective buyers to consider their priorities carefully - be it sensor size, handling, autofocus robustness, or video capabilities - and align these with their desired photographic genres. Both cameras shine within their contexts and offer manageable learning curves and extensive feature sets.

Whichever you choose, you’re investing in capable mirrorless imaging tools backed by strong legacy brands and communities.

This comparison integrates thorough hands-on testing, usage in diverse shooting conditions, and deep technical analysis to provide trusted guidance tailored to photography enthusiasts and professionals seeking practical camera evaluations.

Thank you for reading. Please leave questions or share your experiences with these cameras in the comments!