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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-P5 front
Portability
85
Imaging
53
Features
76
Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-P5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 420g - 122 x 69 x 37mm
  • Revealed October 2013
  • Superseded the Olympus E-P3
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus E-P5, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are created by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the E-P5 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was launched 17 months earlier than the E-P5 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-P5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a complete comparison, here is a short introduction of how the E-M5 scores vs the E-P5 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-P5

 E-M5 E-P5 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-P5 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-P5 E-M5 
RevealedOctober 2013April 2012More modern by 17 months
Screen resolution1037k610kSharper screen (+427k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-P5

 E-M5 E-P5 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 features external dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus E-P5 has measurements of 122mm x 69mm x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5") along with a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 versus Olympus E-P5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 against the E-P5.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and E-P5 is 81 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at specs. The image here might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and E-P5.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the exact same resolution therefore you should expect similar quality of images though you need to factor the production date of the products into consideration. The more aged E-M5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Olympus E-P5
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
71
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/320s)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography info
Olympus E-P5 Street photography info
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
weather sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
78
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
heavier than average (420g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography details
Olympus E-P5 Sports photography details
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
no phase detect AF
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography information
Olympus E-P5 Travel photography information
66
weather sealing
features focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
68
has touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
built-in flash
heavier than average (420g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-P5 Landscape photography highlights
73
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
lack of Time Lapse recording
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-P5 as a Vlogging camera
34
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
33
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
missing mic port
heavier than average (420 grams)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-P5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-P5
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-P5
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-04-30 2013-10-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 35 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 610k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor 3:2 LCD capacitive touchscreen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per second 9.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m (ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (1st or 2nd curtain), Manual (1/1 - 1/64)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/320 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 420 grams (0.93 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 122 x 69 x 37mm (4.8" x 2.7" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.4
DXO Low light rating 826 895
Other
Battery life 360 images 330 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $799 $389