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Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III

Portability
62
Imaging
76
Features
86
Overall
80
Nikon Z5 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III Key Specs

Nikon Z5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 675g - 134 x 101 x 70mm
  • Revealed July 2020
Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Newer Model is OM System OM-5
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Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by competitors Nikon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the Z5 (24MP) and the E-M5 III (20MP) is pretty close but the Z5 (Full frame) and E-M5 III (Four Thirds) possess different sensor sizing.

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The Z5 was brought out 10 months after the E-M5 III so they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the Z5 grades versus the E-M5 III for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon Z5 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 Z5 E-M5 III 
LaunchedJuly 2020October 2019Newer by 10 months
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Nikon Z5

 E-M5 III Z5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon Z5 and Olympus E-M5 III

 Z5 E-M5 III 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen resolution1040k1040kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon Z5 has got outer dimensions of 134mm x 101mm x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 675 grams (1.49 lbs) while the Olympus E-M5 III has proportions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") along with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the Z5 compared to the E-M5 III.

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z5 and E-M5 III is 62 and 80 respectively.

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through a spec sheet. The image below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the Z5 and E-M5 III.

As you can see, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The Z5 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Nikon Z5 will render more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The newer Z5 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III sensor size comparison

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z5 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography highlights
85
you can focus manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
77
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than competition (675g)
83
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon Z5 Sports photography info
Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography info
82
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
good battery pack (470 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.5 fps)
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (30.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery (310 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z5 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography advice
68
good battery pack (470 shots)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
MP count good (24 megapixels)
more heavy than competition (675g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
77
weather proof
has bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
resolution is good (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
bad battery (310 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon Z5
Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 III
86
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
good battery pack (470 per charge)
2 card slots
77
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
bad battery (310 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition (675 grams)
84
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
great video quality (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic jack
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Nikon Z5 vs Olympus E-M5 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z5 and Olympus E-M5 III
 Nikon Z5Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Z5 Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2020-07-20 2019-10-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 TruePic VIII
Sensor type CMOS MOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 23.9mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor area 858.0mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6016 x 4016 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 51200 25600
Highest boosted ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 50 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 273 121
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 15 107
Crop factor 1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,690k dot 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.68x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.5fps 30.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow rear-curtain sync, off Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 4096x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 675 grams (1.49 lb) 414 grams (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 134 x 101 x 70mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 2.8") 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 470 photos 310 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL15c BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 secs) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots 2 Single
Retail price $1,399 $1,199