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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM1 front
Portability
89
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 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
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-PM1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 265g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed November 2011
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PM2
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both of them are created by Olympus. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and E-PM1 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was revealed 6 months after the E-PM1 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PM1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the E-M5 matches up vs the E-PM1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-PM1

 E-M5 E-PM1 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution610k460kSharper screen (+150k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM1 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-PM1 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PM1

 E-M5 E-PM1 
RevealedApril 2012November 2011Similar age
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 has physical dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus E-PM1 has proportions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 against the E-PM1.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and E-PM1 is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking technical specs. The pic below will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and E-PM1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Olympus E-M5 to give extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures far more aggressively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PM1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW files
60
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Olympus E-PM1
82
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
environment proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
75
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Olympus E-PM1
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
lack of phase detect AF
49
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PM1 Travel photography information
66
environment proofing
features touch focus
good resolution (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
45
does not have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PM1 Landscape photography details
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
does not have Time Lapse recording
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PM1 as a Vlogging camera
34
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have mic socket
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PM1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-PM1
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-30 2011-11-23
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 35
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 610 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 265 gr (0.58 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 52
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 10.3
DXO Low light rating 826 499
Other
Battery life 360 photos 330 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $799 $499