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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-M5
(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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-M5, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the E-M5 (16MP) is fairly similar and they possess the exact same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was released 19 months later than the E-M5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-M1 scores against the E-M5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-M1 E-M5 
LaunchedOctober 2013April 2012Fresher by 19 months
Display resolution1037k610kClearer display (+427k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-M1

 E-M5 E-M1 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-M5

 E-M1 E-M5 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys external measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-M5 has specifications of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-M5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M1 compared to the E-M5.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 and E-M5 is 71 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by going over specifications. The graphic underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and E-M5.

Plainly, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the exact same MP so you can expect similar quality of photos though you should always consider the age of the products into consideration. The fresher E-M1 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
high flash sync (1/320s)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography features
Olympus E-M5 Street photography features
78
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides focus by touch
weather proof
lighter than others (497g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
weather proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Sports photography info
Olympus E-M5 Sports photography info
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
65
lighter than others (497g)
weather proof
provides focus by touch
MP count decent (16MP)
terrible battery pack (350 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
66
weather proofing
provides focus via touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography factors
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging features
Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
36
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic port
lighter than others (497 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
34
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no microphone jack
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-M5
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Category Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-10-28 2012-04-30
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePIC VII TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dot 610k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.58x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/320 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 grams (1.10 pounds) 425 grams (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 71
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.3
DXO Low light rating 757 826
Other
Battery life 350 photos 360 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $799 $799