Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5, one being a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both produced by Olympus. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and E-M5 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

Photography Glossary

The E-1 was released 9 years prior to the E-M5 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the E-1 grades vs the E-M5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus E-1 and Olympus OM-D E-M5. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-1 Gallery and Olympus E-M5 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-1 enjoys exterior dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") along with a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M5 has measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-1 vs the E-M5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and E-M5 is 59 and 81 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing simply by seeing specs. The visual underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and E-M5.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Olympus E-M5 to produce extra detail as a result of its extra 11MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older E-1 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.