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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P1 front
Portability
86
Imaging
47
Features
42
Overall
45

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-P1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 355g - 121 x 70 x 36mm
  • Released July 2009
  • New Model is Olympus E-P2
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are designed by Olympus. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and E-P1 (12MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was released 2 years after the E-P1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-P1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-M5 grades versus the E-P1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-P1

 E-M5 E-P1 
ReleasedApril 2012July 2009More modern by 34 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k230kCrisper display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P1 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-P1 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-P1

 E-M5 E-P1 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus E-P1 has dimensions of 121mm x 70mm x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 355 grams (0.78 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 compared to the E-P1.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and E-P1 is 81 and 86 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking technical specs. The image here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and E-P1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus E-M5 to give more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-P1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography factors
Olympus E-P1 Street photography factors
82
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
74
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-P1 Sports photography advice
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no phase detect auto focus
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography info
Olympus E-P1 Travel photography info
66
environment sealing
comes with touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
43
missing Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-P1 Landscape photography details
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
lack of Time Lapse mode
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-P1 Vlogging highlights
34
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
does not offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-P1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-P1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-P1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-30 2009-07-29
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI TruePic V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 35 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor HyperCrystal LCD with AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 425g (0.94 pounds) 355g (0.78 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 121 x 70 x 36mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 55
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 10.4
DXO Low light rating 826 536
Other
Battery life 360 shots 300 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $799 $182