Olympus OM-D E-M5 vs Olympus Stylus 1: A Hands-On Comparison for the Serious Enthusiast

Choosing between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and the Olympus Stylus 1 can feel like jumping between two worlds - the advanced Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system and the versatile superzoom bridge camera. Both were cutting-edge in their time and share the Olympus brand’s signature design flair and imaging philosophy, yet they serve quite different photographic purposes. Having spent weeks shooting extensively with each, I’m excited to walk you through a detailed comparison grounded in real-world use, technical performance, and practical value.

Let’s peel back the layers, from sensors to ergonomics to genre performance, so you can decide which one fits your unique style and needs.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Build Quality

When you hold these two cameras side by side, their distinct personalities immediately come through.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 channels a classic SLR-style mirrorless design, with a robust, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body. It measures 122x89x43mm and weighs about 425g, offering a solid, reassuring feel without fatigue. The textured grip and physical dials cater to enthusiasts who relish tactile control during longer shoots. This is no fragile toy - it’s a camera built to withstand moderate rain and dust, a must for landscape or travel photographers who need reliability outdoors.

By contrast, the Olympus Stylus 1 is a bridge camera with an integrated 28-300mm equivalent zoom lens, housed in a smaller, sleeker body at 116x87x57mm and 402g - slightly more compact but chunkier in depth. Though it lacks weather sealing, the all-in-one zoom convenience makes it a great grab-and-go option. The plastic chassis doesn’t convey the same rugged impression but does emphasize portability.

The size and ergonomics comparison image makes this visual distinction clear:

I personally appreciate the E-M5’s dedicated grip and well-spaced buttons for longer handheld sessions. The Stylus 1, meanwhile, feels nimble but less tailored for extended shoots or harsh conditions.

Design Details: Controls and User Interface

Both cameras feature tilting 3-inch screens with touch capabilities, essential for flexible compositions, but their control layouts diverge in philosophy.

The OM-D E-M5 shines in manual control - dual dials, customizable buttons, and an intuitive mode dial put exposure adjustments at your fingertips without fumbling menus. Its electronic viewfinder boasts a resolution of 1440k dots and 100% coverage with a 0.58x magnification, offering a bright, lag-free preview essential for critical composition and low-light focusing.

Alternatively, the Stylus 1 sports an electronic viewfinder of equal resolution but slightly smaller magnification, and while it offers touchscreen input, the button layout is simplified, catering more toward quick point-and-shoot style usage.

A look from above neatly captures these layout traits:

As someone who appreciates direct access to ISO, exposure compensation, and AF modes, I found the E-M5’s control scheme more engaging and efficient, whereas the Stylus 1 is friendlier for casual shooting or travel snaps where speed is key.

Critical Heart of the Camera: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

If you shoot actively, sensor performance is paramount. Here the E-M5 has a significant edge.

Olympus equipped the E-M5 with a 17.3 x 13 mm Four Thirds CMOS sensor at 16MP resolution, paired with the TruePic VI processor. While Four Thirds sensors aren’t full-frame giants, their dual advantage lies in compact lenses (due to the 2.1x crop factor) and respectable image quality with good dynamic range.

The Stylus 1, however, uses a much smaller 1/1.7-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (7.44 x 5.58mm) with 12MP. Despite modern back-illuminated design aiding light collection, it cannot match the physical area or resolution of the E-M5’s sensor.

Check out the relative sensor sizes here:

This difference translates into:

• Better dynamic range and higher color depth on the E-M5 (DxO Mark scores: 71 overall vs 51)
• Cleaner images at higher ISO levels (E-M5’s low light ISO ~826 vs Stylus 1’s 179)
• More flexibility in post-processing due to 16MP RAW files with richer tonal gradation

During my comparative testing in both daylight and low light, the E-M5 delivered crisper details and more nuanced skin tones in portraits, while the Stylus 1’s images appeared softer with more noise creeping in at ISO 800 and beyond.

The Viewfinder and Rear Screen: Composing and Reviewing Your Shots

In bright sunlight or fast shooting scenarios, a good viewfinder is critical.

Both cameras include electronic viewfinders (EVFs) running at 1440k dots, but the E-M5’s EVF glass is slightly larger and brighter, complemented by a superior magnification (0.58x). This makes framing precise portraits, landscapes, or macro shots more comfortable on the E-M5.

The rear screens also underline differences: the E-M5’s OLED panel, despite its 610k dot resolution, is a bit dimmer but provides excellent touch sensitivity and angle flexibility. The Stylus 1 offers a higher 1040k dot LCD screen with vibrant color reproduction, which is excellent reviewing images in well-lit conditions.

My workflow benefited from the OM-D’s EVF during outdoor shoots and low-light concerts, avoiding glare issues you sometimes encounter on Stylus 1’s LCD-only compositions.

Zoom and Lens Ecosystem: Versatility versus Image Quality

A major choice here is whether you favor interchangeable lens versatility or all-in-one convenience.

The E-M5’s Micro Four Thirds mount taps into an extensive lens catalog - over 100 lenses, from blazing-fast primes to specialized macros, telephotos, and ultra-wide options. Shooting portraits with the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8, for instance, yields deliciously soft bokeh and sharp eye focus unmatched by any built-in lens.

Conversely, the Stylus 1’s fixed 28-300mm f/2.8 constant aperture lens is remarkable for its category. That incredible zoom ratio (10.7x) paired with a bright aperture across the range is rare in bridge cameras, making it a stellar all-rounder for travel, street, and wildlife snapshots without lens swaps.

It boils down to priorities. Want bespoke optics and ultimate image quality? The E-M5 wins easily here. Need lightweight flexibility to cover wide landscape vistas to distant wildlife quickly? The Stylus 1’s lens is a powerhouse.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Precision, and Tracking

Fast, accurate autofocus (AF) is a game-changer whether you capture wildlife or decisive moments on the street.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 employs a contrast-detection AF system with 35 selectable points and face detection. While it lacks phase-detection autofocus found on newer models, in practice, E-M5’s AF performance is reliable and smooth, especially with good lighting. Continuous autofocus and tracking work adequately for moderate action.

The Stylus 1, also contrast-detection with 25 points, benefits from simplicity and an instant “point and shoot” style AF with face detection enabled, but it struggles more noticeably in low light or fast panning scenarios.

In my animal photography sessions, the E-M5’s AF was consistently quicker and better at keeping eyes sharp, an essential trait for wildlife or portrait work where precise focus on the subject is key.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

For sports or dynamic scenes, higher burst rates and shutter speeds matter.

The E-M5 offers 9fps continuous shooting with a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000s - very respectable for its class and era. This allows you to capture fast action more effectively.

The Stylus 1 caps at 7fps and 1/2000s max shutter speed, somewhat limiting in bright sunlight or very rapid sequences.

During track and field testing, I preferred the E-M5 for its responsiveness and silent electronic shutter that minimized vibration, enhancing image sharpness in fast-paced sports.

Specialized Photography Disciplines

Let’s break down how these two cameras hold up across various photography styles, based on my shooting trials.

Portrait Photography

• E-M5: Superior skin tone rendition, thanks to larger sensor and lens options with wide apertures. The built-in 5-axis stabilization aids handheld clarity; eye-detection AF helps nail sharp focus on the subject.
• Stylus 1: Useful for casual portraits with decent background separation, but limited by smaller sensor noise and fixed lens bokeh control.

Landscape Photography

• E-M5: Weather sealing lets you shoot confidently outdoors, plus excellent dynamic range and RAW flexibility means stunning detailed landscapes - ideal with primes or ultra-wides.
• Stylus 1: Versatile zoom covers wide to telephoto landscapes, but smaller sensor limits image quality especially in shadows and highlights.

Wildlife Photography

• E-M5: Better autofocus tracking and interchangeable telephoto lenses make it the preferred choice.
• Stylus 1: Handy zoom for occasional wildlife but lacks AF speed and buffer for chasing fast subjects.

Sports Photography

• E-M5: High burst rate and responsive shutter outperform Stylus 1.
• Stylus 1: Acceptable for snapshots or casual sports but not ideal for professionals.

Street Photography

• E-M5: Bulkier but better image quality; discreet if paired with compact primes.
• Stylus 1: More compact, fast all-in-one lens; excellent for quick, travel-friendly street shooting.

Macro Photography

• E-M5: Access to dedicated macro lenses offers superior magnification and focus precision.
• Stylus 1: Macro focus as close as 5cm is useful but image quality cannot match dedicated setups.

Night/Astro Photography

• E-M5: Handles high ISO far better, and sensor stabilization benefits star trails and long exposures.
• Stylus 1: Limited ISO range and noise make it less suitable.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras offer Full HD 1080p video, but the E-M5 supports 60fps whereas Stylus 1 caps at 30fps.

Neither has microphone or headphone jacks, and stabilization is sensor-based on E-M5 and optical on Stylus 1. Video quality favors E-M5’s superior sensor and codec efficiency.

Travel Photography

• E-M5: More to carry but flexibility and weather sealing win for serious travelers.
• Stylus 1: Lightweight, versatile zoom lens in one body; simpler to pack for casual trips.

Professional Work

The E-M5 aligns better with professional workflows - shooting in RAW, tethering options, and durable build. The Stylus 1 is more a high-end enthusiast or advanced point-and-shoot.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The Stylus 1 edges out slightly in battery stamina with 410 shots per charge vs the E-M5’s 360 shots - both use proprietary lithium-ion packs.

Both cameras take single SD cards, supporting SDHC and SDXC formats, suitable for high-speed storage.

Connectivity is sparse on both. The E-M5 has Eye-Fi card support for wireless transfer (requiring special cards), the Stylus 1 includes built-in Wi-Fi, a boon for on-the-go sharing.

Neither camera supports Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS natively.

Pricing and Value: What You Get for Your Dollar

When launched, the E-M5 retailed around $799, while the Stylus 1 was roughly $700.

Given the E-M5’s advanced sensor, interchangeable lenses, weather proofing, and superior controls, it represents a more serious investment in a camera system, particularly if you intend to grow with your gear.

Stylus 1 is compelling for enthusiasts who prioritize zoom reach, simplicity, and portability without buying lenses separately.

Here’s a visual summary of their performance and overall scores:

…and the genre-specific performance breakdown to help pinpoint where each excels:

Real World Shooting: Image Samples and Experience

To truly judge a camera, nothing beats examining sample images.

Here, direct side-by-side shots from both cameras at various settings reveal the E-M5’s superior sharpness, color accuracy, and dynamic range, especially in challenging lighting.

Olympus E M5 front Olympus E M5 screen back Olympus 1 front Olympus 1 screen back

If you examine the portraits, landscapes, and telephoto crops, you’ll notice how the smaller sensor of Stylus 1 slightly softens results and shows more noise in shadows.

Wrapping Up: Which Olympus Suits You Best?

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is undoubtedly the more capable, versatile tool of the two - ideal for enthusiasts and professionals who value image quality, extensive lens options, robust handling, and weather sealing. It shines in controlled work, demanding environments, and specialized genres like portraiture and wildlife. The learning curve is steeper but offers more creative control.

The Olympus Stylus 1 is a wonderful superzoom bridge camera for those who want convenience without fuss - travelers, street photographers, casual users who want an all-in-one solution with a fantastic constant f/2.8 aperture lens. It prioritizes ease, portability, and zoom reach over ultimate image quality.

If you prefer to build a system and improve your craft, go for the E-M5. If you want a high-quality compact camera that covers almost everything without swapping lenses, Stylus 1 is a strong contender.

I hope this comparative review helps clarify these cameras’ strengths and weaknesses. Having personally tested countless cameras, I found the E-M5 a rewarding companion for serious work, while the Stylus 1 offers fun and flexibility in a compact package.

If you have questions or want specific test details, feel free to reach out - I’m always happy to share more insights.

Happy shooting!

Appendix: Key Specifications at a Glance

Thank you for reading, and don’t forget to check out the images embedded throughout to get a full sense of these cameras in action!