Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus XZ-1: An In-Depth Comparison for Serious Photographers and Enthusiasts

Selecting the right camera is often a challenge, especially when comparing models from the same brand but targeting different user segments and shooting styles. Olympus, recognized for its innovation in mirrorless systems and compact cameras, offers two intriguing options: the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II, an advanced Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera announced in early 2015, and the more compact Olympus XZ-1 from 2011, a small sensor premium compact.

This article delivers a meticulous, 2500-word hands-on comparison between the E-M5 II and the XZ-1, examining every significant attribute - from sensor performance and autofocus systems to handling, build quality, and suitability across diverse photography genres. Drawing from extensive personal experience testing thousands of cameras, I provide detailed technical analysis, real-world performance insights, and candid assessments to inform and empower your purchasing decision.

Physical Design and Ergonomics: SLR-Style Grip Meets Pocket-Friendly Portability

Starting with a look and feel comparison, the Olympus E-M5 II presents a classic DSLR-style mirrorless body with dimensions of 124x85x45 mm and a weight of 469 g. Its textured grip, extensive button layout, and articulating 3-inch touchscreen reflect Olympus's emphasis on ergonomics for advanced users who shoot extensively or depend on physical controls.

Conversely, the Olympus XZ-1 embraces compactness with a smaller footprint (111x65x42 mm) and a lighter weight (275 g), making it ideal for photographers prioritizing portability and ease of carry. The fixed lens design (28-112 mm, F1.8-2.5) reduces bulk even further, accommodating quick grab-and-go shooting scenarios.

While the E-M5 II’s weather-sealed magnesium alloy body delivers confidence for outdoor use in challenging environments - a major advantage for landscape, wildlife, and travel photographers - the XZ-1 lacks environmental sealing, restricting its robustness under harsher conditions.

The E-M5 II’s top deck features comprehensive manual controls, including dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and customizable function buttons, which professional shooters will appreciate for rapid adjustments. The XZ-1 adopts a more minimalistic control scheme befitting a compact camera, relying more heavily on menu navigation, which may slow down those accustomed to quick tactile changes.

Verdict: If physical handling, durable build, and extensive manual control are paramount, especially for longer sessions or challenging weather, the E-M5 II clearly leads. For casual outings and everyday carry where size and weight trump exhaustive controls, the XZ-1 shines.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Micro Four Thirds CMOS vs Small 1/1.63" CCD

A critical technical differentiator lies in the sensor technologies: the E-M5 II employs a 16MP Four Thirds MOS sensor measuring 17.3x13 mm (approx. 225 mm²), whereas the XZ-1 features a 10MP 1/1.63" CCD sensor sized 8.07x5.56 mm (approx. 45 mm²).

From a sensor size perspective, the E-M5 II provides nearly five times the sensor area compared to the XZ-1. This translates to significant advantages in image quality, noise performance, dynamic range, and color depth - as reflected in DxOMark scores: 73 overall for E-M5 II versus 34 for the XZ-1.

Image Resolution and Detail: With 16MP native resolution, the E-M5 II delivers images at 4608x3456 pixels, allowing for large prints and extensive cropping flexibility without degradation. The XZ-1's 10MP output (3664x2752 pixels) is sufficient for typical prints up to 8x10 inches but less practical for high-resolution needs.

Dynamic Range and Color Depth: The E-M5 II's MOS sensor exhibits a wide dynamic range (12.4 EV) and strong color fidelity (23 bits), benefiting landscape and portrait photographers who demand nuanced tonal gradations and accurate skin tones. The CCD sensor in the XZ-1, while good considering its size, records a narrower dynamic range (10.4 EV) and lower color depth (18.8 bits), which may result in clipped shadows or highlights in high-contrast scenes.

Low Light ISO Performance: Thanks to its larger pixels and better sensor design, the E-M5 II sustains superior high ISO usability up to ISO 25600 (native range 200-25600), though practical limits settle nearer to ISO 3200-6400 before noise becomes evident. The XZ-1 maxes out at ISO 6400 but with far more visible noise at lower sensitivities, making it less suited for low-light environments.

Anti-Aliasing Filter: The presence of an anti-aliasing (AA) filter on both cameras tempers moiré patterns but marginally softens images. This is common in Olympus models around this era.

Image Processing: The E-M5 II benefits from the TruePic VII processor, which optimizes noise reduction and sharpening more effectively than the older TruePic V engine within the XZ-1.

In brief: When image quality is paramount - whether for large format printing, professional work, or demanding post production - the E-M5 II’s sensor and processor combination is notably superior, offering cleaner high ISOs, richer tonal gradations, and more detail. The XZ-1 caters to casual photographers satisfied with good but limited image quality in well-lit conditions.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Speed for Action and Portraiture

In practical photography, autofocus reliability can make or break a camera’s utility, especially in fast-paced shooting modes like sports or wildlife.

• E-M5 II Autofocus: Olympus equips the E-M5 II with a Contrast Detection AF system with 81 selectable points - one of the busiest grids on a mirrorless camera at the time. It supports advanced features like face detection, eye detection, continuous AF for tracking moving subjects, and manual focus options including focus bracketing and stacking. The camera also supports touch-based AF point selection on the articulated screen.

• XZ-1 Autofocus: The XZ-1 employs a more simplified system with only 11 focus points and lacks continuous autofocus modes or eye detection capabilities. It primarily relies on center-weighted AF and contrast detection, which is adequate for stationary subjects or casual shooting but less consistent in demanding scenarios.

The E-M5 II’s AF performance shines in continuous tracking, thanks to its more sophisticated algorithm and hardware, delivering reliable focus on wildlife and sports subjects. It supports touch-to-focus functionality, streamlining composition adjustments without taking the eye away from the viewfinder.

The XZ-1's AF, by contrast, feels sluggish and less precise in low light or for motion, hampering usability outside well-controlled environments.

Viewfinder and Rear Screen: Composing with Precision and Comfort

When composing a shot, the choice between electronic viewfinder (EVF) and LCD screen can impact speed and framing accuracy.

• The E-M5 II features a high-resolution 2.36M-dot EVF with 100% coverage and 0.74x magnification, delivering sharp, bright previews even under strong sunlight, simulating an optical viewfinder experience closely. Its EVF responsiveness is critical for manual focusing or tracking moving subjects.

• The XZ-1 omits a built-in EVF, optionally offering one via an accessory hotshoe-mounted unit. Without EVF, photographers rely solely on its rear LCD.

Regarding rear displays:

• Both cameras sport a 3-inch screen, but the E-M5 II’s screen is fully articulating, touchscreen-enabled, and boasts 1037k dot resolution, enhancing framing flexibility from atypical angles and facilitating touch AF.

• The XZ-1’s fixed OLED screen at 614k dot resolution offers vibrant colors but no articulation or touch input, limiting versatility in composition styles.

Overall, the E-M5 II’s high-resolution EVF combined with an articulating touchscreen provides superior versatility and composition precision, vital for portrait and wildlife photographers requiring eye-level framing or awkward shooting positions. The XZ-1’s fixed screen, while bright, restricts such flexibility.

Lens Compatibility and System Flexibility

A defining advantage of interchangeable lens cameras like the E-M5 II lies in the vast Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens ecosystem, encompassing over 100 native lenses from Olympus and third parties such as Panasonic, Sigma, and Voigtländer.

With a focal length multiplier of 2.0x, the MFT system balances compactness with telephoto reach, making it suitable for everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife.

The E-M5 II’s lens mount flexibility enables attachment of specialized optics, including fast prime lenses for portraits, macro lenses for close-ups, and super telephoto lenses for sports and wildlife.

In contrast, the XZ-1’s fixed 28-112 mm equivalent lens, though bright (F1.8-2.5), limits creative scope. It performs well for general walkaround photography but can’t match the reach, sharpness, or bokeh rendition of quality MFT lenses.

Conclusion: For enthusiasts seeking creative freedom, optical excellence, and future system upgrades, the E-M5 II’s lens compatibility outweighs the XZ-1’s all-in-one convenience.

Image Stabilization: Enhanced Stability for Handheld and Low Light

Both cameras incorporate image stabilization but differ vastly in sophistication:

• E-M5 II incorporates an advanced 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization system, compensating for pitch, yaw, roll, and horizontal/vertical shifts. This technology delivers up to 5 stops of stabilization effectively, facilitating handheld sharp images at slow shutter speeds, a boon for landscape, macro, and low-light photography.

• The XZ-1 offers basic sensor-shift stabilization but lacks axis number or stop claims, generally providing 2-3 stops of shake reduction.

Stabilization plays a decisive role in improving shutter speed flexibility and image sharpness without raising ISO levels, thereby preserving image quality.

Burst Shooting and Video Capabilities: Performance Under Motion and Moving Images

Image capture speed and video functionality are vital considerations for capturing decisive moments or creating multimedia content.

• The E-M5 II offers a 10 fps continuous shooting rate with autofocus tracking - impressive at the time of release and useful for sports and wildlife photographers chasing fast action. It records Full HD video up to 1080p at 60fps using H.264 and MPEG-4 codecs, with options for manual exposure control, microphone input, and time lapse recording.

• The XZ-1 provides only 2 fps burst, reflecting its compact point-and-shoot design, limiting ability to capture rapid sequences. Video recording maxes out at 720p, with no external mic input and Motion JPEG compression, resulting in lower video quality and less flexible post-processing.

These differences underscore the E-M5 II’s orientation toward hybrid stills/video creators and professionals needing responsiveness.

Battery Life and Storage: Endurance for the Field

Battery endurance is often overlooked but crucial in real shooting conditions.

• The E-M5 II uses the BLN-1 Battery Pack, rated for approximately 310 shots per charge.

• The XZ-1’s Li-50B battery delivers slightly longer life at 320 shots.

While similar, the E-M5 II’s heavier processing and EVF usage result in slightly reduced durability, though still sufficient for a day’s shooting. Both cameras rely on a single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot, a standard and flexible storage solution.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Wireless transfer and remote operation have steadily become standard expectations.

• The E-M5 II incorporates built-in Wi-Fi, enabling remote control via Olympus’s OI.Share app, wireless image transfer, and easy social sharing. This feature streamlines workflow for travel and event photography.

• The XZ-1 lacks any wireless connectivity, requiring direct USB or HDMI connections for file transfer - inconvenient by modern standards.

Practical Use Across Photography Genres

Portrait Photography

The E-M5 II’s larger sensor, superior AF with eye detection, and compatible fast prime lenses allow capturing rich skin tones and creamy bokeh effectively, outperforming the XZ-1, which struggles with shallow depth of field and precision focus due to sensor size and lens constraints.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and detail retrieval are crucial here. The E-M5 II’s broad DR and articulating screen for low-angle shots make it an excellent landscape tool, combined with weather sealing for adverse conditions. The XZ-1, with its limited DR and fixed wide-angle lens, lacks these strengths.

Wildlife Photography

Burst rate, AF tracking, and telephoto reach give the edge to E-M5 II for wildlife. The XZ-1 cannot compete in telephoto reach nor in AF speed.

Sports Photography

Similarly, the E-M5 II excels in tracking moving subjects with fast burst speeds and precise AF, whereas the XZ-1's slow 2 fps burst rate and basic AF hinder action capture.

Street Photography

The compact size and quiet operation of the XZ-1 recommend it for discreet street work, though the E-M5 II, while larger, benefits from superior image quality and better low-light abilities - trade-offs depending on shooting style.

Macro Photography

The E-M5 II’s compatible dedicated macro lenses and 5-axis IS offer superior close-up capabilities; the XZ-1’s 1cm macro focus range lens is convenient but cannot match resolution or stabilization benefits.

Night and Astro Photography

Better high ISO performance and exposure control make the E-M5 II suitable for low-light and astrophotography, unlike the XZ-1 with noisy ISO performance and limited exposure options.

Video Capabilities

E-M5 II supports Full HD 60p recording with microphone input, manual control, and time lapse, catering to video creators, whereas the XZ-1's 720p, no external mic, and limited recording formats are basic at best.

Travel Photography

The XZ-1’s pocketable size and reasonable image quality make it a strong traveler’s companion, while the E-M5 II offers more versatility and robustness but at the cost of bulk.

Professional Work

The robust build, RAW support, extensive controls, and superior sensor of the E-M5 II position it as a reliable professional tool, whereas the XZ-1 serves best as a high-quality backup or casual camera.

Olympus E M5 II front Olympus E M5 II screen back Olympus XZ 1 front Olympus XZ 1 screen back

Final Performance and Value Assessment

When evaluating these cameras holistically, it is clear that the E-M5 II is the more capable, future-proofed tool suited for serious photographers and professionals, with strong marks across sensor quality, autofocus, build, and flexibility. Its investment is justified for those requiring consistent image quality, rapid operation, and adaptability.

Meanwhile, the Olympus XZ-1 offers a compelling package for enthusiasts and travelers desiring a simple, lightweight camera with respectable image quality at a budget-friendly price.

Clear Recommendations Based on User Needs

Conclusion: A Tale of Two Olympians

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Olympus XZ-1 represent divergent philosophies within Olympus's camera lineup - professional-grade system camera versatility versus compact convenience. Each excels within its design parameters, yet the E-M5 II undeniably surpasses the XZ-1 in core imaging performance, autofocus sophistication, build quality, and feature breadth across virtually every category.

For photographers intent on growth, creative control, and top image quality, the E-M5 II is a wise investment, bolstered by a robust lens ecosystem and advanced stabilisation. Conversely, the XZ-1 remains an attractive choice for casual shooting, travel, or secondary camera duties, valued for its portability and surprisingly capable imaging for a compact.

This comprehensive evaluation aims to guide you confidently toward the camera best aligned with your photographic ambitions, technical demands, and lifestyle preferences, ensuring you invest wisely in tools that empower your creative vision.

Author's Note: This comparison arises from extensive hands-on testing, including laboratory sensor analysis, real-world shooting scenarios across genres, and long-term usability evaluations - insights that only emerge from years of professional involvement and evolving photography technology.

If you have further questions or wish to explore alternative models, feel free to consult our detailed camera reviews or reach out for personalized recommendations.