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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 II

Portability
71
Imaging
53
Features
85
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M1 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
Portability
80
Imaging
54
Features
84
Overall
66

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 II 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 III
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 II Overview

Following is a in-depth review of the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus E-M5 II, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and both are built by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 (16MP) and the E-M5 II (16MP) is very well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (Four Thirds).

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The E-M1 was unveiled 15 months prior to the E-M5 II making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the E-M1 matches up versus the E-M5 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-M1 E-M5 II 

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

 E-M5 II E-M1 
LaunchedFebruary 2015October 2013More modern by 15 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

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

 E-M1 E-M5 II 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Display resolution1037k1037kSame display resolution
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M1 features outer measurements of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") with a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) while the Olympus E-M5 II has sizing of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs).

Compare the Olympus E-M1 versus Olympus E-M5 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view scale comparison of the E-M1 vs the E-M5 II.

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

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and E-M5 II is 71 and 80 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes only by reading through technical specs. The image here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1 and E-M5 II.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels so you should expect similar quality of photographs although you have to consider the production date of the products into consideration. The more aged E-M1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

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

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

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/320 seconds)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
72
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Street photography info
Olympus E-M5 II Street photography info
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
has touch to focus
environment proof
lighter than average in class (497g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
82
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
70
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (350 shots)
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
not so great battery power (310 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
65
lighter than average in class (497g)
environment proof
has touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
74
environment proofing
offers touch to focus
good MP (16MP)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery power (310 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography details
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery life (350 CIPA)
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery power (310 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging highlights
36
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
lighter than average in class (497 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
82
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 and Olympus E-M5 II
 Olympus OM-D E-M1Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2013-10-28 2015-02-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePIC VII TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS MOS
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
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 81
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,037 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.74x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated 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, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 497 gr (1.10 lb) 469 gr (1.03 lb)
Physical dimensions 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 73
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.7 12.4
DXO Low light rating 757 896
Other
Battery life 350 pictures 310 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $799 $699