Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs OM-1 II

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

OM System Olympus OM-D E-M5 III OM System Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) From £699 Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography View Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
VS
OM System OM-1 II OM System OM-1 II (2024) From £1499 Best for Wildlife & action View OM-1 II

Which should you buy?

Travel & Lightweight Outdoor Photography — Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019): The lightest weather-sealed MFT camera — compact, travel-friendly, and capable with 7.5-stop IBIS in a body that fits in a jacket pocket.

Wildlife & Action — OM-1 II (2024): 120fps burst, 8-stop IBIS, and IP53 sealing — the most capable wildlife and action camera in the Micro Four Thirds world.

↓ Full specifications below

Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)

  • You want a lightweight, sealed camera for travel and outdoor photography
  • You're new to Micro Four Thirds and want a capable mid-range body with excellent stabilisation
  • Note: consider the newer OM-5 for updated specs in a similar compact form factor

OM-1 II (2024)

  • You shoot wildlife, birds, or fast action and want the best MFT autofocus available
  • You need strong weather sealing without the weight of a full-frame sports body
  • You're in the MFT system and want a flagship-level body upgrade

Quick take: The olympus om-d e-m5 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)OM-1 II (2024)
Price £699 £1,499
Sensor 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Stacked BSI CMOS
Resolution 20.4MP 20.4MP
Video 4K/30p, 1080p/120p 4K/120p Cinema4K, Apple ProRes RAW (with recorder)
Autofocus Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection Quad-Pixel phase-detect, 1053 points, AI subject recognition (birds/animals)
Stabilisation 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops (Dual IS)
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical 120fps electronic (blackout-free), 15fps mechanical
Battery Life 390 shots (CIPA) ~520 shots (CIPA)
Weight 414g body only 561g body only
Dimensions 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm 134.8 × 91.6 × 72.7mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.83× magnification
Screen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-I Dual SD UHS-II slots
Connectivity Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
⚡ Compare specs side by side Olympus OM-D E-M5 III prices → OM-1 II prices →

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