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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL6 front
Portability
88
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-PL6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL7
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Overview

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL6, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are produced by Olympus. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the E-PL6 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras boast the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was released 3 years earlier than the E-PL6 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PL6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-M5 scores versus the E-PL6 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-PL6

 E-M5 E-PL6 
Display resolution610k460kSharper display (+150k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL6 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-PL6 E-M5 
LaunchedAugust 2014April 2012Fresher by 27 months
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL6

 E-M5 E-PL6 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 offers physical dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL6 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL6 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 compared to the E-PL6.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and E-PL6 is 81 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing simply by researching a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and E-PL6.

As you can see, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the exact same MP therefore you should expect comparable quality of photographs though you really should take the release date of the cameras into account. The older E-M5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-PL6 Portrait photography info
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography advice
Olympus E-PL6 Street photography advice
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
has touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography info
Olympus E-PL6 Sports photography info
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has no phase detect autofocus
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography info
Olympus E-PL6 Travel photography info
66
environment sealing
includes focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
85
has touch to focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography factors
Olympus E-PL6 Landscape photography factors
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no Time Lapse function
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Olympus E-PL6
34
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic port
79
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
missing external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PL6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PL6
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-PL6
General Information
Company Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-PL6
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-04-30 2014-08-01
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI TruePic VI
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 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 610k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash settings 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
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s -
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
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 lb) 325g (0.72 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 360 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $799 $300