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Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Samsung NX100 front
Portability
88
Imaging
55
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
Samsung NX100
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 282g - 120 x 71 x 35mm
  • Launched September 2010
  • Later Model is Samsung NX200
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Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-M5 and Samsung NX100, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Samsung. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the NX100 (15MP) is relatively comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and NX100 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was introduced 20 months later than the NX100 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung NX100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go through a detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-M5 matches up vs the NX100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Samsung NX100

 E-M5 NX100 
LaunchedApril 2012September 2010Fresher by 20 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung NX100 over the Olympus E-M5

 NX100 E-M5 
Screen resolution614k610kCrisper screen (+4k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Samsung NX100

 E-M5 NX100 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 provides external 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 Samsung NX100 has sizing of 120mm x 71mm x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") with a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 and Samsung NX100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 and the NX100.

Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and NX100 is 81 and 88 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and NX100.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will show more detail using its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The younger E-M5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography features
Samsung NX100 Portrait photography features
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
73
manual focus
decent MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography highlights
Samsung NX100 Street photography highlights
82
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch focus
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
76
has image stabilization
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX100 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather sealing
lacks phase detect AF
60
has image stabilization
decent MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
better than average battery life (420 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography details
Samsung NX100 Travel photography details
66
weather sealing
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
66
better than average battery life (420 per charge)
decent MP (15MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography features
Samsung NX100 Landscape photography features
73
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
does not have Time Lapse function
75
manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization
decent MP (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (420 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging factors
Samsung NX100 Vlogging factors
34
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
31
has image stabilization
has face detect autofocus
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 vs Samsung NX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Samsung NX100
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Samsung NX100
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Samsung
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Samsung NX100
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-04-30 2010-09-14
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI DRIMe Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 15MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 35 15
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX
Available lenses 107 32
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 610k dot 614k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor VGA AMOLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 282 grams (0.62 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 120 x 71 x 35mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 62
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 10.7
DXO Low light score 826 563
Other
Battery life 360 photos 420 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $799 $386