Olympus E-M5 II vs Samsung NX1000

Choosing the right camera can feel like navigating a maze, especially when different brands and sensor formats jostle for your attention. Today, let’s dive deep into two mirrorless cameras aimed at enthusiasts and entry-level pros alike: the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and the Samsung NX1000. Both hail from reputable manufacturers but come from very different eras and design philosophies. Over thousands of hours of camera tests across genres, I’ve learned it pays off to look beyond specs only - understanding how features translate into hands-on results under varied conditions. So, let’s explore how these two models stand up - examining build, sensor tech, autofocus, image quality, handling, and more - to help you find the best fit for your photography.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

Before even clicking the shutter, how a camera feels in your hands impacts every shooting session. The Olympus E-M5 II embodies the classic SLR-style mirrorless form factor - beefy, well-gripped, and robust. In contrast, Samsung’s NX1000 presents a rangefinder-style mirrorless body that’s noticeably compact and lighter.

Weighing 469g, the E-M5 II has a solid yet manageable heft, with a rounded grip conducive to extended handheld shooting - personal favorite of mine during long landscape hikes or street strolls. The NX1000 is nearly half that weight at 222g and smaller in footprint (114x63x37mm), which you might prefer if pocketability or travel convenience is paramount, though the grip feels less substantial.

Both boast a 3-inch LCD but with different designs. Olympus uses a fully articulated touchscreen that’s invaluable for low- or high-angle shots - something I rely on heavily for macro or video work. The Samsung’s screen is fixed and non-touch, somewhat limiting flexibility and intuitive menu navigation.

Overall, if you prioritize a confident, weather-sealed body with superior grip for demanding sessions, the E-M5 II shines. If ultra-compact and lightweight for casual travel and quick snapshots sounds better, the NX1000 remains appealing.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Ready for Your Adventures?

While many cameras skimp here, Olympus takes build seriously. The E-M5 II features magnesium alloy construction plus environmental sealing against dust and splashes. For outdoor shooters or those facing unpredictable weather, this makes a real-world difference. I’ve shot in light rain and dusty locations with no hesitation on the Olympus.

Samsung’s NX1000, launched three years earlier, offers none of this. Its plastic construction and unsealed design limit rugged use and outdoor reliability - something to consider if you’re an adventurous shooter.

In short, Olympus provides a true confidence-booster for travel, hiking, and landscape photographers who need durable gear, while Samsung’s is better suited for dry, controlled environments or casual use.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Now to what really matters in image quality: sensor size, resolution, and processing. The Olympus E-M5 II uses a 16-megapixel Four Thirds MOS sensor (17.3x13mm), while the Samsung NX1000 sports a 20-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5x15.7mm).

That difference in sensor area (roughly 225mm² vs. 369mm²) translates to several photographic realities:

• Low Light Performance: Larger APS-C sensors like in the NX1000 typically handle noise better at high ISOs, allowing cleaner images under dim lighting.
• Dynamic Range: Both cameras hover around 12.4 EV in DxO tests, meaning they capture similarly broad details between shadows and highlights - impressive for their vintage.
• Resolution and Detail: Despite fewer megapixels, the Olympus’ sensor holds up well thanks to acclaimed TruePic VII image processor, yielding punchy colors and excellent microcontrast.

In my hands-on studio portrait comparisons, skin tones rendered by the Olympus E-M5 II felt a tad more natural, with its distinctive color science adding a subtle vibrancy without oversaturation. The Samsung showed slightly more noise at ISO 1600 and above but produced sharper files on textured subjects - likely owed to its higher resolution.

Autofocus Systems: Tracking, Accuracy, and Speed

Autofocus (AF) can make or break your experience across genres like wildlife or sports where capturing fleeting moments matters. The Olympus E-M5 II employs a contrast-detection system with 81 focus points and face detection. The Samsung NX1000 offers just 15 contrast-detection points with no phase-detection or face tracking.

Olympus enhances AF with several focus modes including continuous AF, touch AF, and tracking. Its superior point density and system responsiveness stand out in real-world tests, particularly in reliable eye detection for portraits. Samsung’s simpler AF grid often causes hunting under low light or fast action, occasionally missing focus entirely.

Moreover, Olympus supports focus bracketing and stacking - features that shine for macro shooters experimenting with depth of field. Samsung does not offer these, limiting creative flexibility.

Bottom line: Olympus delivers modern AF capabilities needed for decisive shooting, while Samsung leans towards casual or planned compositions with less demanding autofocus needs.

Shooting Across Disciplines: How These Cameras Perform in the Field

Let’s look at how each camera adapts to major photographic genres - from portraits to astrophotography.

Portraits:

Olympus’ eye detection and finer AF tracking truly shine here - skin tones have warmth; backgrounds get creamy bokeh, thanks to Micro Four Thirds lens options with wide apertures. Meanwhile, Samsung’s APS-C sensor naturally excels in subject separation and detail resolution but relies heavily on lens choice to deliver smooth bokeh, as its kit lens options are limited.

Landscapes:

Dynamic range parity lets you rely on both cameras for rich detail recovery. But Olympus’ weather sealing and dual in-body 5-axis stabilization encourage handheld landscape shots. The articulated screen helps shooting tricky low angles near water or rocks. Samsung’s compact size aids portability on hikes but requires a sturdy tripod for max sharpness.

Wildlife & Sports:

Burst rates favor Olympus’ 10fps continuous shooting vs. Samsung’s 8fps. Olympus’ denser AF points and face detection lend better tracking, crucial for fast-moving subjects. Samsung’s lower AF sophistication and smaller lens ecosystem reduce wildlife capabilities. Olympus’ smaller sensor factor (2.1x crop) means you get more equivalent focal reach on telephotos, a bonus in wildlife.

Street Photography:

Samsung’s discreet size and lighter weight make it a handy street camera - less conspicuous, easier to carry for long walks. Olympus is bigger but still manageable. Low light favors Olympus due to in-body stabilization and wider ISO range, though Samsung’s raw files retain good detail in daytime street shots.

Macro Photography:

Olympus supports focus bracketing and stacking natively, with strong stabilization - a boon for macro work. Samsung lacks these options and in-body stabilization, making handheld close-ups more challenging. Olympus’ lens ecosystem offers more dedicated macro lenses.

Night & Astro Photography:

Here sensor size and noise performance matter most. Samsung’s APS-C sensor pulls ahead slightly with cleaner high ISO files at 3200-6400 ISO. Olympus attempts to compensate with in-body stabilization for longer exposures handheld but lag in noise reduction means Samsung edges this genre.

Video:

Video remains a secondary strength in both. Olympus records 1080p up to 60fps with mic input but no headphone jack; Samsung offers 1080p at 30fps with no mic input. Olympus’ articulated touchscreen aids framing vlogs or run-and-gun filming. Neither supports 4K or advanced video codecs.

Travel:

Olympus balances versatility (weather sealed, stabilized body), moderately compact size, and battery life (310 shots). Samsung is super lightweight with slightly longer battery endurance (320 shots) - but less flexible in harsh conditions. Choose Olympus if ruggedness and creative control matter; Samsung for light, casual travel shooting.

Professional Work:

Neither camera targets high-end pro workflows, but Olympus’ better build, raw file quality, and broader lens selection lend it more credibility for serious photographers on a budget. Samsung fits enthusiasts or hobbyists less reliant on heavy post-processing.

User Interface and Controls: Intuitive or Antiquated?

Controls shape how swiftly you get results and stay in creative flow.

Olympus features comprehensive physical dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and mode selection - essential for on-the-fly adjustments. A logical button layout, customizable function keys, and touchscreen support allow quick menu navigation. The articulated rear screen is bright at 1037k-dot resolution, sharp and vibrant.

Samsung’s fewer physical controls and fixed TFT LCD (921k dots) leave much to menu digging and slower operation. No touchscreen means more button presses are necessary. The NX1000’s lack of an electronic viewfinder also reduces compositional precision outdoors in bright light.

User-tested, Olympus offers a clearly more accommodating user experience for serious photojournalism or sports shooting; Samsung is simpler, suited to casual handheld use or beginners adapting to mirrorless ergonomics for the first time.

Lens Ecosystem: Options, Availability, and Compatibility

Olympus benefits from the mature Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system with over 100 native lenses, from affordable primes to professional telephotos and specialized macro optics. Third-party lens makers also supply competitively priced options. This supports almost all photography genres seamlessly.

Samsung’s NX mount, by contrast, is limited to 32 lenses, many of which are discontinued, and fewer fast primes. That lens scarcity hinders creative flexibility and long-term investment value.

If lens variety and future-proofing matter as much as body specs, Olympus decisively wins here.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life: Real World Convenience

Both cameras have built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer but lack Bluetooth or NFC - typical of their release periods. USB 2.0 ports enable tethered shooting and file transfers, while HDMI outputs allow external monitor connections.

Single SD card slot storage in both models suffices for casual use but professionals prefer redundancy (not available here).

As for battery life, they are comparable - Olympus rated for 310 shots, Samsung for 320 - indicating similar power efficiency. Keep spare batteries handy if you shoot events or shoots all day.

Raw Performance Scores: What the Data Tells Us

Let’s lean on DxO Mark’s quantitative results for final validation.

• Olympus E-M5 II scores 73 overall, with a color depth of 23 bits and dynamic range of 12.4 EV.
• Samsung NX1000 closely trails on 72 overall, with 22.8 bits color depth and matching dynamic range.

Though close overall, Olympus slightly edges in color fidelity, while Samsung’s larger sensor improves low-light ISO capabilities (ISO 896 vs ISO 840 thresholds). Both deliver solid image quality for their target segments.

Genre-specific scores reveal Olympus leads in sports and macro photography thanks to stabilization and autofocus sophistication. Samsung has advantages in travel and landscape due to sensor size and resolution.

Real-World Sample Images: A Glimpse Into Image Output

Olympus E M5 II front Olympus E M5 II screen back Samsung NX1000 screen back

These side-by-side images demonstrate distinct looks - Olympus offering vibrant, punchy JPEGs with strong detail preservation and creamy bokeh; Samsung delivering sharper edge-to-edge resolution with more neutral colors. Your preference here depends on intended style and post-processing workflow.

Summing It Up: Who Should Choose Which?

After putting both cameras through their paces with a variety of lenses, genres, and shooting conditions, my recommendations reflect their strengths and user needs:

Pick the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II if:

• You want a weather-sealed, rugged camera for outdoor and travel photography
• Autofocus speed, tracking, and focus stacking matter for wildlife, sports, macro work
• Fully articulated touchscreen and physical controls improve your workflow
• You value a mature lens system with many creative options
• Video capability and in-body stabilization are useful for hybrid shooting

Choose the Samsung NX1000 if:

• Your budget is tight, and you prefer a lighter, more pocketable body
• You shoot mostly static subjects, casual landscapes, or street scenes in fair weather
• You don’t require fast autofocus or advanced stabilization
• You are an entry-level photographer easing into interchangeable lens shooting
• You favor a simpler, no-frills mirrorless experience without the need for advanced ergonomics

Final Thoughts: Longevity and Investment

Though both cameras are somewhat dated now, Olympus’ E-M5 II remains popular among enthusiasts seeking a durable, versatile mirrorless system with ample support and lens pedigree. Samsung’s NX1000 can serve beginners well during tight budgets but faces challenges due to limited ecosystem and aging technology.

Dear Olympus, I’d love to see a future sensor update that balances MFT’s portability with APS-C noise advantages! And Samsung, for your next comeback, please put more muscle into autofocus and weather sealing - you’re onto something with compact elegance.

In Closing

Choosing between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and Samsung NX1000 boils down to priorities - rugged versatility and lens choices versus lightness and simplicity. No single camera fits all; your photography genre and shooting style should guide your pick.

Hopefully, my years of field testing and these insights help bring clarity. Remember, shooting consistently and learning your gear inside out trumps spec sheets any day.

Happy shooting!

If you want to explore further or see my hands-on video reviews, let me know - I’m always happy to dig deeper into comparisons.