Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-M5
58 Imaging
47 Features
76 Overall
58
81 Imaging
51 Features
70 Overall
58
Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1280 x 720 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
- Released February 2011
- Succeeded the Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
- Announced April 2012
- Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
Photography Glossary Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview
On this page, we are contrasting the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus E-M5, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both sold by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and E-M5 (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsThe E-5 was revealed 15 months earlier than the E-M5 making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the E-5 matches up versus the E-M5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
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Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-5 & Olympus OM-D E-M5. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-5 Gallery & Olympus E-M5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Olympus E-M5
| E-5 | E-M5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display type | Fully Articulated | Tilting | Fully Articulating display | |
| Display resolution | 920k | 610k | Crisper display (+310k dot) | |
| Selfie screen | Take selfies |
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-5
| E-M5 | E-5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | April 2012 | February 2011 | Newer by 15 months | |
| Touch display | Easily navigate |
Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Olympus E-M5
| E-5 | E-M5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus manually | More accurate focus | |||
| Display dimensions | 3" | 3" | Equal display dimensions |
Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-5 has got external dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M5 has sizing of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-5 versus Olympus E-M5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-5 compared to the E-M5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and E-M5 is 58 and 81 respectively.
Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison
Normally, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specifications. The picture underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-5 and E-M5.
Plainly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can expect to see the Olympus E-M5 to provide you with more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged E-5 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.
Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder
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Olympus E-5 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications
| Olympus E-5 | Olympus OM-D E-M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Brand Name | Olympus | Olympus |
| Model | Olympus E-5 | Olympus OM-D E-M5 |
| Type | Advanced DSLR | Advanced Mirrorless |
| Released | 2011-02-03 | 2012-04-30 |
| Physical type | Mid-size SLR | SLR-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | TruePic V+ | TruePic VI |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | Four Thirds |
| Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
| Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 224.9mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
| Anti aliasing filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Full resolution | 4032 x 3024 | 4608 x 3456 |
| Max native ISO | 6400 | 25600 |
| Lowest native ISO | 100 | 200 |
| RAW data | ||
| Lowest boosted ISO | - | 100 |
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focus | ||
| Touch focus | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detection AF | ||
| Contract detection AF | ||
| Phase detection AF | ||
| Number of focus points | 11 | 35 |
| Cross focus points | 11 | - |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Available lenses | 45 | 107 |
| Crop factor | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Screen | ||
| Type of screen | Fully Articulated | Tilting |
| Screen diagonal | 3" | 3" |
| Resolution of screen | 920 thousand dots | 610 thousand dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch screen | ||
| Screen technology | HyperCrystal transmissive LCD | Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
| Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,440 thousand dots |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.58x | 0.58x |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 60 seconds |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
| Continuous shooting rate | 5.0 frames per second | 9.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Integrated flash | ||
| Flash range | 18.00 m (at ISO 200) | no built-in flash |
| Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) |
| Hot shoe | ||
| AEB | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Maximum flash synchronize | 1/250 seconds | 1/250 seconds |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1920x1080 |
| Video format | Motion JPEG | H.264, Motion JPEG |
| Mic 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 | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proof | ||
| Dust proof | ||
| Shock proof | ||
| Crush proof | ||
| Freeze proof | ||
| Weight | 800 grams (1.76 pounds) | 425 grams (0.94 pounds) |
| Physical dimensions | 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") | 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around score | 56 | 71 |
| DXO Color Depth score | 21.6 | 22.8 |
| DXO Dynamic range score | 10.5 | 12.3 |
| DXO Low light score | 519 | 826 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 870 photos | 360 photos |
| Form of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery model | BLM-5 | BLN-1 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec) | Yes (2 or 12 sec) |
| Time lapse shooting | ||
| Storage type | Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Card slots | 2 | One |
| Pricing at launch | $1,700 | $799 |