OM-D E-M5 Mark IIvs Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Olympus
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
Starting from £350 new
Best for Travel & Landscape
View OM-D E-M5 Mark II
OM System
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
Starting from £699 new
Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography
View Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
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.
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.
Who should buy what
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
- Travel photographers wanting compact + weather sealing
- Outdoor and landscape shooters
- Micro Four Thirds system users
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
- Travel photographers who want a compact, weather-sealed MFT body
- Outdoor photographers upgrading from the E-M10 who want better sealing
- Enthusiasts who want strong IBIS in a lightweight, portable system
- Photographers who want a capable travel camera that won't weigh them down
Quick take: The olympus om-d e-m5 iii has the highest resolution at 20mp; the om-d e-m5 mark ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £699 |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, face detection | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 417g (with battery and card) | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | OM-D E-M5 Mark II | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Street | ||
| Macro | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Portrait | — |
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