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Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Ricoh GR II front
Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
55
Overall
57

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II 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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Ricoh GR II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8-16.0) lens
  • 251g - 117 x 63 x 35mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Succeeded the Ricoh GR
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II Overview

The following is a detailed assessment of the Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Ricoh. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the GR II (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and GR II (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was launched 4 years earlier than the GR II which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Ricoh GR II being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the E-M5 scores against the GR II when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Ricoh GR II

 E-M5 GR II 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR II over the Olympus E-M5

 GR II E-M5 
AnnouncedJune 2015April 2012Newer by 38 months
Display resolution1230k610kSharper display (+620k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Ricoh GR II

 E-M5 GR II 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 has physical measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Ricoh GR II has proportions of 117mm x 63mm x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 vs the GR II.

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and GR II is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing specifications. The picture below will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and GR II.

To sum up, both cameras offer the same exact MP but different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 has got the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field more difficult. The more aged E-M5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Ricoh GR II Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
75
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Ricoh GR II as a Street photography camera
82
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
74
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (251g)
good high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography highlights
Ricoh GR II Sports photography highlights
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proof
has no phase detect AF
50
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (28mm)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Ricoh GR II as a Travel photography camera
66
weather proof
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
67
lighter than competition in class (251 grams)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Ricoh GR II as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proof
lack of Time Lapse recording
59
manual focus
good sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging advice
Ricoh GR II Vlogging advice
34
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of mic jack
32
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (251g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Ricoh GR II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Ricoh GR II
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Ricoh GR II
General Information
Company Olympus Ricoh
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Ricoh GR II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-04-30 2015-06-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI GR Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28mm (1x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-16.0
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 300s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, Flash On, Flash Synchro., Manual Flash, Red-Eye Flash Auto, Red-Eye Flash On, Red-Eye Flash Synchro, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s -
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 251 gr (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 117 x 63 x 35mm (4.6" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 80
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.7
DXO Low light rating 826 1078
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 320 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 DB-65
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $799 $599