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Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II

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Olympus E-M1 II

20 MP | Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus E-M1 II
$1,999.99
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Olympus E-M5 II

16 MP | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus E-M5 II
$1,099.00
Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Mirrorless cameras by Olympus. Olympus E-M1 II has a 20.0MP Four Thirds sensor whereas Olympus E-M5 II has a 16.0MP Four Thirds sensor. This will be an interesting match up as even though these two cameras doesn't have the exact same body type, they are both ranked amongst Top 10 cameras in their classes. Olympus E-M1 II is ranked #9 out of 30 Pro Mirrorless cameras with an overall score of 89 whereas Olympus E-M5 II is ranked #4 out of 38 Semi-Pro Mirrorless cameras with an overall score of 82.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Olympus E-M1 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-09-19
  • 20MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 64)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3″ Fully Articulated Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 15.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4096 x 2060 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 574g. 134 x 91 x 67 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Olympus OM-D E-M1 Compare

Olympus E-M5 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-02-06
  • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 100)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3″ Fully Articulated Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 469g. 124 x 85 x 45 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Olympus OM-D E-M5 Compare
Reasons to choose Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II over Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Max Sensor Resolution 20 MP vs 16 MP 25% more pixels
Number of Focus Points 121 vs 81 40 more focus points
Continuous Shooting 15.0fps vs 10.0fps 5 fps faster
Battery Life 350 shots vs 310 shots 40 more frames with a single charge
Headphone Port Yes vs No better video control
Color Depth 23.7 vs 23.0 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 12.8 vs 12.4 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO 1312 vs 896 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution 4096 x 2060 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Flash Sync Port Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Focus Stacking Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Storage Slot 2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-II vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Reasons to choose Olympus OM-D E-M5 II over Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Max Shutter Speed 1/16000s vs 1/8000s faster shutter speed
Weight 469 g vs 574 g 105 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area 14.12µm2 vs 11.22µm2 25% larger pixel area
Price $1,099 vs $2,000 $901 cheaper
Common Strengths of Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Wireless Connection Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift All the lenses are stabilized
Articulating Screen Yes vs Yes Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution 1.037k dots vs 1.037k dots Higher resolution screens
Continuous Shooting 15.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Microphone Port Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Environmental Sealing Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie Friendly LCD Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Pixel Shift High Resolution Mode Yes (50.0MP) vs Yes (40.0MP) Increased resolution with Pixel Shifting
Focus Bracketing Yes vs Yes Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Smartphone Remote Control Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Built-in Flash No vs No Require external flash
Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II: Physical Specs Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II. Olympus E-M5 II is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 10mm narrower, 6mm shorter and 22mm thinner than Olympus E-M1 II.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II.
Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus E-M5 II is significantly lighter (105g ) than the Olympus E-M1 II which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II have the same Four Thirds sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

E-M1 II
E-M5 II
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

E-M1 II
E-M5 II
Min
Average
Max
Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II: Sensor Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II has a 20.0MP Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features TruePic VIII processor. On the other hand, Olympus E-M5 II has a 16.0MP Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features TruePic VII processor.

Below you can see the E-M1 II and E-M5 II sensor size comparison.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II Sensor Size Comparison


Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Olympus E-M1 II for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Olympus E-M5 II for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Read the details

Olympus E-M1 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Olympus E-M5 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Olympus E-M1 II for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Olympus E-M5 II for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 15.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
121 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/16000s
81 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Olympus E-M1 II for Daily Photography

GOOD

Olympus E-M5 II for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
574g
Body Thickness 67mm
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
469g
Body Thickness 45mm
Read the details

Olympus E-M1 II for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Olympus E-M5 II for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Read the details


Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-M1 II Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II have the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 92 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Both Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II has Sensor based Image stabilization which means that all the lenses will be stabilized in these bodies.

Lens Type # of Olympus E-M1 II Lenses # of Olympus E-M5 II Lenses
Standard Zoom 14 14
Standard Prime 11 11
Wideangle Zoom 4 4
Wideangle Prime 23 23
Telephoto Zoom 16 16
Telephoto Prime 8 8
SuperZoom 6 6
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 5 5
Macro Prime 4 4
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 1
TOTAL 92 92
Olympus E-M1 II vs Olympus E-M5 II: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Olympus E-M1 II and Olympus E-M5 II scores compare:

Olympus E-M1 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #6 out of 49 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #15 out of 1131 in all Cameras
Olympus E-M5 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #15 out of 49 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #49 out of 1131 in all Cameras

Olympus E-M1 II has a higher Overall Score thanks to its better image quality and more features compared to Olympus E-M5 II. On the other hand the Olympus E-M5 II beats Olympus E-M1 II in two significant areas: Value for Money and Compactness.

If you are a price conscious buyer and looking for a small and relatively low priced camera where you can take everywhere with you, Olympus E-M5 II is the right choice for you.
If you are after the better photographic performance with all the advanced features, definitely get the Olympus E-M1 II

Olympus E-M1 II
Olympus E-M1 II
$1,999.99

Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-M5 II
$1,099.00

Olympus E-M5 II vs Olympus E-M1 II Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
Brand Olympus Olympus
Announced 2016-09-19 2015-02-06
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Price $1,999.99 $1,099.00
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Dimensions 17.4 x 13 mm 17.3 x 13 mm
Area 226.20mm2 224.90mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 3888 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 200 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 64 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 121 81
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of Available Lenses 92 92
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Size 3″ 3″
Resolution 1,037k dots 1,037k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots 2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.74
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 9.10 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 15.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 4096 x 2060 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MOV, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 574g 469g
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm 124 x 85 x 45mm
Battery Life 350 shots 310 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 80 73
DxO Color Depth 23.7 23.0
DxO Dynamic Range 12.8 12.4
DxO Low Light ISO 1312 896
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