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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
63
Overall
56

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Announced May 2013
  • Older Model is Olympus E-PM1
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PM2, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are offered by Olympus. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the E-PM2 (16MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The E-M5 was brought out 12 months prior to the E-PM2 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-PM2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-M5 matches up versus the E-PM2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 E-M5 E-PM2 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution610k460kClearer screen (+150k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Olympus E-M5

 E-PM2 E-M5 
AnnouncedMay 2013April 2012Fresher by 12 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PM2

 E-M5 E-PM2 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 offers exterior measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Olympus E-PM2 has dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PM2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 vs the E-PM2.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and E-PM2 is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing merely by reading through technical specs. The photograph here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and E-PM2.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP so you can expect similar quality of files however you will want to take the launch date of the products into consideration. The older E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography features
Olympus E-PM2 Street photography features
82
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch to focus
environment sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
79
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PM2 Sports photography highlights
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
no phase detect AF
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Olympus E-PM2
66
environment sealing
offers touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
66
features touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Olympus E-PM2 Landscape photography info
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
lack of Timelapse mode
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Olympus E-PM2
34
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
36
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Olympus E-PM2
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Olympus PEN E-PM2
General Information
Make Olympus Olympus
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus PEN E-PM2
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-30 2013-05-21
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW data
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 35
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 107 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 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 format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 425 grams (0.94 pounds) 269 grams (0.59 pounds)
Physical 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 All around rating 71 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.2
DXO Low light rating 826 932
Other
Battery life 360 photos 360 photos
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 shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost $799 $448