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OM-D E-M5 vs OM-D E-M5 Mark II

Quick take: The OM-D E-M5 has the highest resolution at 16MP; the OM-D E-M5 is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

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.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

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-M5Olympus · 2012OM-D E-M5 Mark IIOlympus · 2015
Price £40 usedBest£217 used
Sensor 16.1MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS
Resolution 16.1MPBest16.0MP
Video Full HD 1080/60i1080p/60p
Autofocus Contrast-detect AF, 35 areas, face and eye detectionContrast-detect AF, face detection
Stabilisation 5-axis in-body stabilisation5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops
Burst Rate 9fps10fpsBest
Battery Life ~360 shots (CIPA)Best~310 shots (CIPA)
Weight 425g (with battery)417g (with battery and card)Best
Dimensions 121.9 × 88.9 × 43.2mm123.7 × 85.0 × 44.5mm
Weather Sealed YesYes
Viewfinder EVF, 1.44M dotsElectronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification
Screen 3.0" tilting OLED touch screen, 610k dots3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Mount Micro Four ThirdsMicro Four Thirds
Memory Cards Single SD slotSingle SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity USB 2.0 multi-connector, micro HDMI, hot shoe, Accessory Port 2USB 2.0, 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
OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Portrait
4.9/10
5.0/10
Street
6.0/10
5.9/10
Travel
5.9/10
5.8/10
Wedding & Events
4.0/10
4.0/10
Documentary
4.1/10
4.6/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
5.4/10
Landscape
4.7/10
5.4/10
Wildlife
6.1/10
6.1/10
Casual
4.3/10
4.3/10
Food
5.5/10
5.9/10
Macro
5.1/10
7.1/10
Architecture
4.4/10
5.4/10
Astrophotography
3.7/10
5.5/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.2/10

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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