Upgrade Guide
Olympus OM-D E-M1→Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the OM-D E-M1. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the OM-D E-M5 Mark II
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Generation2 years newer (2015 vs 2013)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (16MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | OM-D E-M1 | OM-D E-M5 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.8 | ||
| Street | -0.1 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.8 | ||
| Documentary | -0.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.6 | ||
| Landscape | +0.8 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.6 | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Food | +0.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.2 | ||
| Architecture | +1.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | OM-D E-M1 | OM-D E-M5 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £179 | £350 | |
| Released | 2013 | 2015 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16.3MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | 1080p/60p | |
| Autofocus | Dual Fast AF: 37-point on-sensor phase detect + 81-area contrast AF, face and eye detection | Contrast-detect AF, face detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis in-body stabilisation, 4 stops (CIPA) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps (6.5fps with continuous AF) | 10fps | |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | ~310 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 497g (with battery) | 417g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 2.36M dots, 1.48x | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See OM-D E-M1 and OM-D E-M5 Mark II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the OM-D E-M5 Mark II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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