Z30vs 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?
Travel & Everyday Video — Z30 (2022): Nikon's lightest Z-mount body — no fuss, excellent subject tracking, and a flip screen for creators.
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
Z30 (2022)
- Vloggers and content creators who don't need an EVF
- Beginners entering the Nikon Z system at the lowest price point
- Streamers who want a compact interchangeable-lens camera for desk use
- Travel and lifestyle shooters who want a compact APS-C Z body
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 z30 has the highest resolution at 21mp; the om-d e-m5 mark ii is the most affordable; only the om-d e-m5 mark ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Z30 (2022) | OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £350 |
| Sensor | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 20.9MP | 16.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | Contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 11fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 405g body only | 417g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Z30 | OM-D E-M5 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Macro | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| 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