Upgrade Guide
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II→Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The OM-D E-M5 III improves across 5 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most OM-D E-M5 Mark II owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the OM-D E-M5 III
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Resolution20MP vs 16MP (+4MP)
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StabilisationImproved — 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS
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Burst rate30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical vs 10fps
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Battery life390 shots (CIPA) vs ~310 shots (CIPA)
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Generation4 years newer (2019 vs 2015)
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-M5 Mark II | OM-D E-M5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.4 | ||
| Street | +0.8 | ||
| Travel | +0.7 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.4 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.9 | ||
| Documentary | +1.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.3 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.3 | ||
| Casual | +2.4 | ||
| Food | +1.0 | ||
| Macro | +0.8 | ||
| Architecture | +0.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.1 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | OM-D E-M5 Mark II | OM-D E-M5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £699 | |
| Released | 2015 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 20MP | ↑ |
| 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) | ↑ |
| 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 |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See OM-D E-M5 Mark II and OM-D E-M5 III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the OM-D E-M5 III against your specific genres — not just specs.
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