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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 III

Portability
59
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus E-1 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 III Key Specs

Olympus E-1
(Full Review)
  • 5MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 1.8" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 735g - 141 x 104 x 81mm
  • Released November 2003
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-3
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
  • Announced October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Updated by OM System OM-5
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 III Overview

In this write-up, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus E-M5 III, one is a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both offered by Olympus. There is a big difference between the resolutions of the E-1 (5MP) and E-M5 III (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-1 was unveiled 17 years earlier than the E-M5 III which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-1 being a Large SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-1 matches up versus the E-M5 III in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-1 E-M5 III 

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

 E-M5 III E-1 
AnnouncedOctober 2019November 2003More modern by 193 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"1.8"Bigger screen (+1.2")
Screen resolution1040k134kCrisper screen (+906k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

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

 E-1 E-M5 III 
Manual focus More precise focus

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 III Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-1 has external dimensions of 141mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 735 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Olympus E-M5 III has measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") and a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs).

See the Olympus E-1 versus Olympus E-M5 III in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-1 and the E-M5 III.

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

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-1 and E-M5 III is 59 and 80 respectively.

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

Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 III Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specs. The picture below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-1 and E-M5 III.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Olympus E-M5 III to give more detail having an extra 15 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged E-1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-M5 III as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have liveview
low megapixels (5MP)
77
you can focus manually
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-1 Street photography details
Olympus E-M5 III Street photography details
57
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
lighter than competitors (735 grams)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
83
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
environment sealing
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-1 Sports photography factors
Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography factors
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high max fps (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-1 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
47
lighter than competitors (735 grams)
weather proof
no Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
77
environment sealing
has bluetooth
provides focus by touch
good resolution (20MP)
selfie friendly display
terrible battery pack (310 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-1 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography advice
46
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
tiny screen (1.8")
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
low megapixels (5 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
77
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (310 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-1 Vlogging information
Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging information
9
no video recording
84
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic jack
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Olympus E-1 vs Olympus E-M5 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-1 and Olympus E-M5 III
 Olympus E-1Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus E-1 Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Category Pro DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2003-11-29 2019-10-17
Body design Large SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic VIII
Sensor type CCD MOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.4 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 226.2mm²
Sensor resolution 5 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 2560 x 1920 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 3 121
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 1.8 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 134 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.48x 0.68x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 30.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution None 4096x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 735g (1.62 pounds) 414g (0.91 pounds)
Dimensions 141 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 310 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $1,700 $1,199