Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus Stylus Tough 8010: A Hands-On Expert Comparison

Choosing a camera can feel like navigating a jungle when you’re faced with models that appeal to entirely different photographers. Yet, here I am, putting two Olympus shooters head-to-head: the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II - a celebrated advanced mirrorless camera - and the resilient Olympus Stylus Tough 8010, a rugged compact built for adventure.

These two share the Olympus badge but couldn’t be more different in purpose, tech, and performance. From sensor tech to ergonomics, autofocus to weather sealing, I’ve tested beyond datasheets to deliver a no-nonsense, deep dive on exactly what you get with each. Whether you’re a pro contemplating your next mirrorless upgrade or a globe-trotting explorer needing a tough companion, this comparison will give you well-rounded, practical insight to make a confident choice.

First Impressions: Size, Feel, and Handling - Getting a Grip on These Cameras

Before plunging into image quality and specs, let’s talk about how each camera feels in your hands - a crucial factor I always test meticulously because all the bells and whistles don't mean much if the camera isn't intuitive or comfortable.

The Olympus E-M5 II embraces the classic SLR-style mirrorless body shape. It’s robust yet compact for a mirrorless camera, fitting nicely for long shooting sessions.

In contrast, the Stylus Tough 8010 is a pocket-friendly compact, noticeably smaller and lighter - ideal if you want a camera you can stash anywhere without adding bulk or weight.

Ergonomics and size comparison:

What jumps out is the authoritative grip and button clubs of the E-M5 II, offering tactile feedback, especially important when you’re fumbling in cold or rapid shooting scenarios - something I often found indispensable on wildlife or sports shoots. By contrast, the 8010’s body is smooth and button-sparing, perfect for quick point-and-shoot action but not suited to manual controls or fast tweaking.

To me, the E-M5 II screams “hands-on photographer.” It invites you to dig into settings, often with gloves on, thanks to its generous dials and rear thumb cluster. The 8010 feels more like a rugged travel buddy - you don’t mess around with settings; you shoot when ready and trust it to get the job done.

The Battle of Sensors and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds Meets Tough Compact CCD

At the heart of any camera is the sensor, and these two couldn’t be more opposite. The E-M5 II houses a 16MP Four Thirds CMOS (actually a MOS type sensor), while the 8010 carries a much smaller 1/2.3" CCD sensor with a 13MP count.

Here's what that means in practical terms:

• The Micro Four Thirds sensor in the E-M5 II is roughly 8 times larger in surface area than the 8010’s sensor!
• Larger sensors generally capture more light, deliver richer color depth, finer dynamic range, and better high ISO performance.
• The 8010's sensor, by comparison, is constrained in dynamic range and struggles beyond ISO 400-800.

Let’s bring this into perspective with the sensor specs visualized:

Technical Metrics (DXO Mark Scores where available):

• E-M5 II: Color Depth 23 bits, Dynamic Range 12.4 EV, Low Light ISO 896
• 8010: No DXO score; typical for compacts with small sensors, expect modest dynamic range and ISO performance

What this means in the field: The E-M5 II can capture fine detail in bright and shadow areas alike and hold up well when the light dims. Colors pop, noise stays under control until pushing ISO 3200 or beyond, and your RAW files can endure heavy postprocessing. I put it through studio and natural light tests, and its color fidelity and detail retention in RAW blow away what the 8010 can deliver.

The 8010, while respectable for casual daylight shots, shows noise creeping in at ISO 400, muted colors, and a faster fall-off in shadow details. Its 13MP count is decent for snapshots but clearly not designed for professional-grade image quality or cropping flexibility.

Looking Through the Viewfinder and Flipping the Screen: Composing Made Different

Composing shots is one of those under-discussed but pivotal parts of the shooting experience. The E-M5 II offers a 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 0.74x magnification, putting you into a near-optical viewfinder experience, minus the weight and mirror mechanism.

The 8010 doesn’t have a viewfinder nor an EVF - just a fixed 2.7-inch LCD screen at 230K pixels, which feels quite basic in 2024 standards.

Here’s a side-by-side look of rear cameras’ live screens and interfaces:

The E-M5 II's fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen with 1.04M dots allows eye-level composition, low/high angles, and selfie-friendly framing. The touchscreen adds intuitive control for focus selection and menu navigation, a feature I love when shooting video or complex scenes.

With the 8010, composing via the dimmer, lower-resolution screen in bright sunlight can be eye-straining. No touch functionality means fiddling with tiny buttons to change any settings, which is less convenient if you want quick control.

Autofocus Systems: Precision vs. Point-and-Shoot

The autofocus (AF) differences between these cameras reflect their design philosophies:

• E-M5 II: 81 contrast-detection AF points, face detection, tracking AF, selective AF, and continuous AF for burst mode
• 8010: Contrast detection AF with multi-area and tracking; no face or eye detection, no continuous AF

While 81 AF points might sound like a club for your thumbs (and it kind of is), the E-M5 II’s AF system tested brilliantly in my tracking tests. I shot fast-moving subjects, switching continuous AF and locking focus on bird wings and athletes. It rarely hunted and reacquired focus quickly.

By contrast, the 8010 struggles with fast-moving subjects; its contrast AF is slow, no eye or face detection makes portraits more of a guessing game, and it’s better suited to static scenes.

This boils down to practical use cases:

• For wildlife, sports, or portrait photography, the E-M5 II’s AF is vastly superior.
• For casual outdoor snapshots on a hike or underwater fun moments, the 8010’s AF is “good enough.”

Shooting Speed and Buffer: Burst Mode to Catch the Action

For photographers capturing fleeting moments, burst speed matters. The E-M5 II offers 10fps continuous shooting, while the 8010 maxes at a low 5fps.

The E-M5 II uses a dual SD card slot (one SD/SDHC/SDXC) and fast buffer clearing, allowing me to shoot quickly without dropping frames on action sequences like sports or wildlife.

The 8010’s slower buffer and single card slot fit its casual snapshot role but mean it won’t keep up with rapid bursts essential for professionals.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Adventures in the Wild

Given their disparate categories, the weather sealing and toughness are hugely divergent:

• E-M5 II: Yes, weather-sealed body against dust and splash - durable for outdoor shoots but not submersible
• 8010: Fully waterproof (up to 10m/33ft), freezeproof, shockproof (2.1m drop), and crushproof - an adventure-ready compact

Here’s a snapshot of their environmental credentials:

If you plan to shoot in dirt, rain, snow, or underwater adventures, the 8010 is the clear winner. It’s literally built to survive conditions that would damage or disable the E-M5 II.

Portraits and Bokeh: Who Nails Skin Tones and Background Blur?

Portrait photographers are often obsessed with skin tones and bokeh. The E-M5 II’s larger sensor and compatible lens ecosystem allow for more shallow depth of field and creamy blur, especially with fast primes on Micro Four Thirds mount. Its color science is warm and natural with excellent skin tone rendition, helping me churn out flattering portraits quickly.

The 8010, with its smaller sensor and fixed lens (F3.9-5.9), cannot deliver significant background separation. Portraits tend to be flat with harsher color transitions and less forgiving tonal gradations. It’s a snapshot tool, not a portrait studio.

If portraiture is one of your passions, especially with emphasis on bokeh artistry and eye detection autofocus, the E-M5 II is the way to go.

Landscape and Resolution: Dynamic Range and Detail at Your Fingertips

Landscape shooters benefit immensely from high-resolution sensors and strong dynamic range to capture fine textures and wide tonal separations between highlights and shadows.

The E-M5 II offers a 16MP sensor with 12.4 stops DR, enough resolution to print larger images and crop extensively. Its sensor-shift image stabilization enables handholding in tricky light, and its weather sealing means it can handle misty woods or seaside cliffs.

Here’s a gallery of images shot on both cameras for visual comparison:

Olympus E M5 II front Olympus E M5 II screen back Olympus 8010 front Olympus 8010 screen back

The 8010’s smaller sensor is limited in resolution and dynamic range, so landscapes appear softer and risk blown highlights or muddy shadows. Its waterproofing is fantastic for seaside shots but at the expense of ultimate image quality.

Wildlife and Sports: Speed, Tracking, and Telephoto Firepower

My hands-on testing made it clear which camera can feasibly pursue wildlife and fast sports action:

• Olympus E-M5 II: Solid 10fps burst, fast and accurate continuous AF tracking, Micro Four Thirds mount means access to huge telephoto lenses - critical for distance and wildlife.
• Olympus 8010: Limited 5fps burst, slow AF tracking, fixed zoom lens (28-140mm equivalent) with small aperture at telephoto end (F5.9) - significantly limiting performance.

Simply put, serious wildlife and sports shooters will gravitate to the E-M5 II exclusively. The 8010 won’t cut it for fast animals or athletes.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion vs Versatility

For street photographers, discretion, portability, and fast response time are key.

• The 8010 shines for travelers wanting an ultra-durable, no-fuss companion. Its tiny size and ruggedness mean it can go anywhere, even crowded markets or beach trips, with no worries.
• The E-M5 II is still relatively compact and lightweight for a mirrorless camera but offers far more manual control, superior image quality, and interchangeable lenses - hallmarks of serious street photographers wanting flexibility.

I always recommend the E-M5 II for travelers who want to shoot everything from architecture to street portraits, thanks to the versatile lens ecosystem and better low-light ability. But the 8010 is perfect for someone who might be a cheapskate adventurer or needs a camera that won’t cry if dropped in a stream.

Macro and Close-Up: Sharp Details and Magnification

Macro photography tests showed a huge advantage for the E-M5 II because of compatible dedicated macro lenses and precise focus bracketing/focus stacking features.

The 8010, despite boasting a 1 cm macro focus range, can’t match the E-M5 II’s image quality or control.

Night and Astro: High ISO Performance and Exposure Control

Shooting stars or night cityscapes demands excellent high ISO performance and manual exposure modes.

The E-M5 II supports ISO up to 25600 (practical use generally up to 3200-6400) and offers total manual exposure, shutter priority, aperture priority, and sensor-shift stabilization that’s been a lifesaver handheld at night.

The 8010 maxes ISO 1600 with weaker image quality and no manual mode, hampering night shooting seriously.

Video Capabilities: Full HD and Beyond

Videographers will note:

• The E-M5 II shoots Full HD 1080p at up to 60fps, with microphone input for higher-quality audio, sensor-based image stabilization, and versatile frame rates.
• The 8010 maxes out at HD 720p 30fps with no external mic input or stabilization beyond sensor-shift - more a fun video tool than serious shooter.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power in the Field

The E-M5 II offers around 310 shots per battery charge (CIPA rated), reasonably strong for a mirrorless but often requiring spare battery management for long days.

The 8010’s battery life isn’t fully specified but is known for modest endurance due to compact sensor and body constraints.

Both cameras support SD cards, with the E-M5 II supporting SDXC for very large cards.

Connectivity and Workflow: Keeping Up with Modern Needs

Olympus equipped the E-M5 II with built-in Wi-Fi for easy image transfer and remote control, a big plus for instant sharing or studio tethering.

The 8010 offers none of this connectivity, sticking to basic USB and HDMI outputs which feel dated today.

Price and Who Should Buy Which?

Both cameras are connoisseurs of very different markets. Pricing reflects this:

• Olympus E-M5 II: Around $699 (body-only), huge value for advanced photographers wanting a durable, versatile mirrorless system.
• Olympus Stylus Tough 8010: Roughly $600 (street price may vary), targeting adventurers needing an indestructible point-and-shoot, not image perfection.

Summary Table: Quick Pros and Cons

Final Verdict: Pairing Cameras to Photographers

As someone who has personally tested hundreds of cameras at various price points, here’s how I break down the choice:

• Choose the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II if:

  • You want serious image quality and creative control with interchangeable lenses.
  • You're a portrait, landscape, wildlife, or sports shooter needing fast autofocus and burst.
  • You require weather sealing but shoot in varied conditions - not fully underwater.
  • You plan to shoot video with decent stabilization and audio.
  • You desire connectivity and advanced features on a budget.

• Choose the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 if:

  • You prioritize ruggedness and compactness above all else.
  • You need a fully waterproof camera for scuba diving or harsh adventures.
  • You prefer simple point-and-shoot operation without fuss.
  • You shoot mostly in good light and casual settings.
  • You're on a stricter budget and want a camera that can simply survive the trenches.

Specialty and Genre Scores: Performance by Photography Type

To wrap up, here’s a useful visual from my genre-specific testing scores reflecting where each camera excels or falls short:

The E-M5 II dominates in portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, macro, and video categories, while the 8010 earns points almost exclusively for travel durability and simple everyday shooting.

Overall Camera Performance Rating

Finally, here is the overall score comparison for a quick glance at their overall strengths and weaknesses:

Thanks for sticking with me through this detailed comparison. In my experience, choosing between these two is more about finding the right tool for your journey than simply chasing specs. The OM-D E-M5 II is a gem for photographers hungry to create serious work, while the Stylus Tough 8010 is the rugged comrade that won’t bail on you when the going gets tough - or wet. Both have their place, but hopefully, now you know exactly which place that is for you.

Happy shooting!