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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Announced February 2015
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 III
Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-PM2
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PM1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both built by Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and E-PM1 (12MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 II was brought out 3 years after the E-PM1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the E-M5 II grades versus the E-PM1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Olympus E-PM1

 E-M5 II E-PM1 
IntroducedFebruary 2015November 2011More modern by 40 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 E-PM1 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PM1

 E-M5 II E-PM1 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 II has external dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Olympus E-PM1 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PM1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 II compared to the E-PM1.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and E-PM1 is 80 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by looking through specs. The image underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 II and E-PM1.

All in all, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Olympus E-M5 II to provide you with more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos more aggressively. The newer E-M5 II is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PM1 Portrait photography advice
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focus
saves RAW files
60
focusing manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography info
Olympus E-PM1 Street photography info
82
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography advice
Olympus E-PM1 Sports photography advice
65
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
not so great battery (310 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (6.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography factors
Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography factors
74
weather sealing
comes with touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
not so great battery (310 per charge)
45
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography info
74
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
not so great battery (310 shots)
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging factors
Olympus E-PM1 Vlogging factors
82
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone support
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone port
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-PM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Olympus E-PM1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIOlympus PEN E-PM1
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Olympus PEN E-PM1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-02-06 2011-11-23
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII TruePic VI
Sensor type MOS 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 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 81 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 469g (1.03 lb) 265g (0.58 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 52
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 10.3
DXO Low light rating 896 499
Other
Battery life 310 images 330 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $699 $499