Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus XZ-1

In this article, we will be matching up the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus XZ-1, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and XZ-1 (10MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and XZ-1 (1/1.63") feature different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was launched 16 months later than the XZ-1 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus XZ-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the E-M5 matches up against the XZ-1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Olympus XZ-1. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-M5 Gallery and Olympus XZ-1 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 comes with outside dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-1 has specifications of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 and Olympus XZ-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 versus the XZ-1.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and XZ-1 is 81 and 88 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and XZ-1.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.