Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs ZV-1 II
OM System
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
From £699
Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography
View Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
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.
Pocket Vlogging — ZV-1 II (2023): The best pocket vlogging camera — 1-inch sensor, ultrawide zoom, flip screen, and real-time Eye AF in a shirt pocket.
Who should buy what
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
ZV-1 II (2023)
- You create vlog content solo and want reliable face tracking in a genuinely portable camera
- You want a wide zoom range for shooting variety without ever changing lenses
- You want clearly better image quality and stabilisation than a smartphone, simply packaged
Quick take: The olympus om-d e-m5 iii has the highest resolution at 20mp; the zv-1 ii is the most affordable; only the olympus om-d e-m5 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) | ZV-1 II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £699 | £649 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.4MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 15fps |
| Battery Life | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414g body only | 292g |
| Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 105.5 × 60.0 × 43.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input |
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