Upgrade Guide
Olympus OM-D E-M5→Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the OM-D E-M5. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the OM-D E-M5 III
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Resolution20MP vs 16MP (+4MP)
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical vs 9fps
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Generation7 years newer (2019 vs 2012)
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 | OM-D E-M5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.5 | ||
| Street | +0.7 | ||
| Travel | +0.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.4 | ||
| Documentary | +2.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.4 | ||
| Landscape | +1.2 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.3 | ||
| Casual | +2.4 | ||
| Food | +1.4 | ||
| Macro | +2.8 | ||
| Architecture | +1.6 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | OM-D E-M5 | OM-D E-M5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £40 used | £659 | |
| Released | 2012 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16.1MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 20MP | ↑ |
| Video | Full HD 1080/60i | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF, 35 areas, face and eye detection | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis in-body stabilisation | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~360 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 425g (with battery) | 414g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 1.44M dots | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting OLED touch screen, 610k dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD UHS-I |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See OM-D E-M5 and OM-D E-M5 III 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 III against your specific genres — not just specs.
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