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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Announced November 2003
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-3
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 II
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

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).

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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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-1 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-1 E-M5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-1

 E-M5 E-1 
ReleasedApril 2012November 2003Fresher by 102 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution610k134kSharper screen (+476k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-1 and Olympus E-M5

 E-1 E-M5 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

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

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 Portrait photography factors
Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography factors
46
you can focus manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
resolution not great (5MP)
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography factors
Olympus E-M5 Street photography factors
57
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
lighter than others in class (735g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
has focus by touch
environment sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 Sports photography features
Olympus E-M5 Sports photography features
40
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (5 megapixels)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
47
lighter than others in class (735 grams)
environment proofing
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (5MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
66
environment sealing
has focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography advice
46
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
screen is somewhat small (1.8")
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (5 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video shooting
34
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Olympus E-M5
 Olympus E-1Olympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus E-1 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Type Pro DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2003-11-29 2012-04-30
Physical type Large SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - TruePic VI
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 2560 x 1920 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 3 35
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 1.8 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 134 thousand dots 610 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.58x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 735 gr (1.62 lb) 425 gr (0.94 lb)
Physical dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 71
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 826
Other
Battery life - 360 photos
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $1,700 $799