Olympus OM-D E-M1 vs Olympus OM-D E-M5

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Main
Model
Price
Advantages

launch
Announced
Body type
Camera subcategory
Sensor
Effective pixels
Max resolution
Sensor size
Sensor type
Processor
Image ratio w:h
Sensor photo detectors
Image
ISO
Boosted ISO (minimum)
White balance presets
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Image stabilization notes
Uncompressed format
JPEG quality levels
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
Maximum shutter speed
Aperture priority
Shutter priority
Manual exposure mode
Subject / scene modes
Built-in flash
External flash
Flash modes
Continuous drive
Self-timer
Metering modes
Exposure compensation
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Screen size
Screen dots
Touch screen
Live view
Viewfinder type
Viewfinder coverage
Viewfinder magnification
Viewfinder resolution
Screen type
Videography features
Resolutions
File Format
Microphone
Speaker
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
Digital zoom
Manual focus
Number of focus points
Lens mount
Focal length multiplier
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
Dimensions
Environmentally sealed
Battery
Battery details
Battery Life (CIPA)
Storage
Storage types
Connectivity
USB
HDMI
Wireless
Wireless notes
Remote control
Other features
Orientation sensor
Timelapse recording
GPS
Samples
Videos

Main
Model
Olympus OM-D E-M1
Price
Advantages
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Maximum shutter speed: 1/8000 sec
PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURES Continuous drive: 10.0 fps
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Screen dots: 1,037,000
SCREEN / VIEWFINDER Viewfinder resolution: 2,360,000
OPTICS & FOCUS Digital zoom: Yes (2X)
OPTICS & FOCUS Number of focus points: 81
CONNECTIVITY Wireless: Built-In
OTHER FEATURES Timelapse recording: Yes
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Main
Model
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Price
Advantages
PHYSICAL Weight (inc. batteries): 425 g (0.94 lb / 14.99 oz)
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launch
Announced
Sep 10, 2013
Body type
Camera subcategory
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Effective pixels
16 megapixels
Max resolution
4608 x 3456
Sensor size
Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm)
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
TruePIC VII
Image ratio w:h
1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Sensor photo detectors
17 megapixels
Image
ISO
100-25600 in 1/3EV or 1EV increments
Boosted ISO (minimum)
100
White balance presets
7
Custom white balance
Yes
Image stabilization
Sensor-shift
Image stabilization notes
'5-axis' IS
Uncompressed format
RAW
JPEG quality levels
Super Fine, Fine, Normal, Basic
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
60 sec
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000 sec
Aperture priority
Yes
Shutter priority
Yes
Manual exposure mode
Yes
Subject / scene modes
Yes
Built-in flash
No (compact external flash included)
External flash
Yes (hot-shoe, wireless)
Flash modes
Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (1st curtain), Slow sync (2nd curtain), Manual
Continuous drive
10.0 fps
Self-timer
Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Metering modes
- Multi
- Center-weighted
- Spot
Exposure compensation
±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps)
AE Bracketing
±2 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB Bracketing
Yes (3 frames in 2, 4, 6 steps selectable in each A-B/G-M axis)
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Tilting
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
1,037,000
Touch screen
Yes
Live view
Yes
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
1.48×
Viewfinder resolution
2,360,000
Screen type
—
Videography features
Resolutions
1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
File Format
H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone
Stereo
Speaker
Mono
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Phase Detect
- Multi-area
- Center
- Selective single-point
- Tracking
- Single
- Continuous
- Touch
- Face Detection
- Live View
Digital zoom
Yes (2X)
Manual focus
Yes (with focus peaking)
Number of focus points
81
Lens mount
Micro Four Thirds
Focal length multiplier
2×
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
497 g (1.10 lb / 17.53 oz)
Dimensions
130 x 94 x 63 mm (5.13 x 3.68 x 2.48″)
Environmentally sealed
Yes (Dust, splash, freeze resistent)
Battery
Battery Pack
Battery details
BLN-1 lithium-ion battery pack
Battery Life (CIPA)
350
Storage
Storage types
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (micro HDMI)
Wireless
Built-In
Wireless notes
802.11b/g/n with smartphone connectivity
Remote control
Yes (optional RM-UC1 wired remote)
Other features
Orientation sensor
Yes
Timelapse recording
Yes
GPS
None
Watch sample photos
Watch video reviews

launch
Announced
Feb 8, 2012
Body type
Camera subcategory
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Effective pixels
16 megapixels
Max resolution
4608 x 3456
Sensor size
Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm)
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor
TruePic VI
Image ratio w:h
1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Sensor photo detectors
17 megapixels
Image
ISO
Auto (200 - 25600), 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600
Boosted ISO (minimum)
—
White balance presets
12
Custom white balance
Yes (1)
Image stabilization
Sensor-shift
Image stabilization notes
—
Uncompressed format
RAW
JPEG quality levels
—
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed
60 sec
Maximum shutter speed
1/4000 sec
Aperture priority
Yes
Shutter priority
Yes
Manual exposure mode
Yes
Subject / scene modes
Yes
Built-in flash
No
External flash
Yes (via Hot-shoe (FL-50/FL-50R, FL-36/FL-36R, FL-20, FL-14, FL-300R, FL-600R))
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
Continuous drive
9.0 fps
Self-timer
Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Metering modes
- Multi
- Center-weighted
- Spot
Exposure compensation
±3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps)
AE Bracketing
(2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB Bracketing
Yes (3 frames in 2, 4, 6 steps selectable in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis)
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD
Tilting
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
610,000
Touch screen
Yes
Live view
Yes
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
1.15×
Viewfinder resolution
1,440,000
Screen type
Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Videography features
Resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
File Format
H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone
Stereo
Speaker
Mono
Optics & Focus
Autofocus
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Multi-area
- Selective single-point
- Tracking
- Single
- Continuous
- Face Detection
- Live View
Digital zoom
No
Manual focus
Yes (Live view image is magnified when the focus ring is rotated. (at S-AF+MF or MF mode))
Number of focus points
35
Lens mount
Micro Four Thirds
Focal length multiplier
2×
Physical
Weight (inc. batteries)
425 g (0.94 lb / 14.99 oz)
Dimensions
122 x 89 x 43 mm (4.8 x 3.5 x 1.69″)
Environmentally sealed
Yes
Battery
Battery Pack
Battery details
Lithium-Ion BLN-1 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)
—
Storage
Storage types
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Yes (Mini HDMI type-D)
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Wireless notes
—
Remote control
Yes (Optional (RM-UC1))
Other features
Orientation sensor
—
Timelapse recording
No
GPS
None
Watch sample photos
Watch video reviews

Summary

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 offers more powerful 2X digital zoom. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 has more number of focus points in compare with the OM-D E-M5: 81 vs 35. More focus points means more convenience when attempting to focus on objects that are not centred.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 display is better as it offers more number of screen dots 1,037,000 in compare to 610,000 dots of the OM-D E-M5 screen. The higher dot count display is better for reviewing pictures on your camera. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 has better fastest shutter speed - 1/8000 second.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi that will help the photographer to transfer photos wirelessly from a digital camera to a laptop. The OM-D E-M5 weighs 425g that is 72g lighter than the weight of the Olympus OM-D E-M1.

Taking into account the above differences the OM-D E-M1 becomes the best choice. Get the list of the best offers on Amazon.