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OM-D E-M5 Mark II vs PEN E-PL7
Quick take: The PEN E-PL7 has the highest resolution at 16MP; the PEN E-PL7 is the most affordable; only the OM-D E-M5 Mark II is weather sealed.
Where the OM-D E-M5 Mark II wins
- Burst Rate: 10fps
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Wedding & Events: 4.0 vs 3.3
- Documentary: 4.6 vs 3.4
- Sports & Action: 5.4 vs 4.4
Where the PEN E-PL7 wins
- Cheaper new: £105 vs £124
- Resolution: 16.1MP
- Battery Life: ~350 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 357g (with battery)
- Street: 6.6 vs 5.9
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- OM-D E-M5 Mark II 124 × 85 × 44 mm · 469 g
- PEN E-PL7 115 × 67 × 38 mm · 357 g
The PEN E-PL7 is 9 mm narrower, 18 mm shorter, 6 mm slimmer and 112 g lighter than the OM-D E-M5 Mark II.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
OM-D E-M5 Mark II — Travel & Landscape: 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
OM-D E-M5 Mark II (2015)
is the right camera for you if…
- Travel photographers wanting compact + weather sealing
- Outdoor and landscape shooters
- Micro Four Thirds system users
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | OM-D E-M5 Mark IIOlympus · 2015 | PEN E-PL7Olympus · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £124 used | £105 usedBest |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 16.1MP Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 16.0MP | 16.1MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p | Full HD 1080p/30 |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, face detection | Contrast-detect AF (FAST AF), 81 areas, face / eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | Sensor-shift in-body stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 10fpsBest | 8fps |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ~350 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 417g (with battery and card) | 357g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | 123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm | 114.9 × 67 × 38.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | None built in (optional VF-4) |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen (flips down 180°), 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, Wi-Fi | USB, micro HDMI, hot shoe, Accessory Port 2, Wi-Fi |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
OM-D E-M5 Mark II
PEN E-PL7
Portrait
5.0/10
4.6/10
Street
5.9/10
6.6/10
Travel
5.8/10
5.8/10
Wedding & Events
4.0/10
3.3/10
Vlogging & Video
4.2/10
—
Documentary
4.6/10
3.4/10
Sports & Action
5.4/10
4.4/10
Landscape
5.4/10
4.1/10
Wildlife
6.1/10
5.2/10
Casual
4.3/10
4.6/10
Food
5.9/10
5.5/10
Macro
7.1/10
5.1/10
Architecture
5.4/10
4.3/10
Astrophotography
5.5/10
3.8/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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