S1 IIvs OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Olympus
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
Starting from £350 new
Best for Travel & Landscape
View OM-D E-M5 Mark II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Hybrid & Video — S1 II (2025): The S1 II is the full-frame L-mount hybrid camera Panasonic's system has been waiting for — phase-detect AF, 4K/120p, class-leading IBIS, and a professional build in one complete package. It addresses every weakness of the original S1 and positions Lumix firmly back in the conversation for serious hybrid shooters.
Travel & Landscape — OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015): The E-M5 II was the benchmark weather-sealed travel camera of its generation. The 16MP sensor is modest by today's standards but excellent in practice, and the 5-axis IBIS is genuinely useful. Weather sealing, a flip screen, and a high-res composite mode make it a practical companion. A highly capable used-market buy for travel and outdoor photographers who don't need the latest resolution numbers.
Who should buy what
S1 II (2025)
- Hybrid photographers who need excellent stills and serious video capability
- Video professionals who want full-frame quality with 4K/120p
- Landscape and portrait photographers who want maximum stabilisation
- L-mount system users upgrading from S1 or S5 II
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
- Travel photographers wanting compact + weather sealing
- Outdoor and landscape shooters
- Micro Four Thirds system users
Quick take: The s1 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the om-d e-m5 mark ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | S1 II (2025) | OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,200 | £350 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 16.0MP |
| Video | 6K/30p, 4K/120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject recognition (human, animal, vehicle) | Contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, up to 8 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps (electronic), 9fps (mechanical) | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 680g (body only) | 417g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 138.5 × 100.0 × 91.5mm | 123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.78× | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | S1 II | OM-D E-M5 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Street | ||
| Macro | — | |
| Astrophotography | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history