Olympus E-M1 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Cameras
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Olympus E-M1 vs Canon 5D Mark IV

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M1.

35mm 864.0mm²
30.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark IV Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 5D Mark IV in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark IV.
Compare Canon 5D Mark IV image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark IV conclusion.

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M1 II
Compare E-M1 vs E-M1 II
Compare Olympus E-M1 II vs Canon 5D Mark IV

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Differences

Olympus E-M1 advantages over Canon 5D Mark IV

Less expensive
$1099* vs $3249
Save money for lenses or accessories
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Higher max flash sync
1/320 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
497g vs 890g
Lighter weight
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
9.9 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.9 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
50 vs 19 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon 5D Mark IV advantages over Olympus E-M1

Larger sensor
35mm vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.36 vs 3.75 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 0.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
5D Mark IV test data on DxO Mark E-M1 test data on DxO Mark

2,995 vs 757 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

900 vs 350 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More dots on screen
1620k vs 1037k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
30.4 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 50 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

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Read E-M1 User Reviews

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Kit with 24-70mm Lens

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Review Excerpt

Exceptional rugged, weather-proof, professional build; Lightning fast contrast-detect AF, and phase-detect AF that makes Four Thirds lenses far more responsive; Tons of useful physical controls with immense customizability; Arguably the best image quality of any Micro Four Thirds camera we've tested to date; Large, sharp, high-resolution electronic viewfinder; Advanced Wi-Fi capabilities, including remote control shooting in PASM exposure modes.
Bigger and heavier than many other compact system cameras; Most expensive Micro Four Thirds camera on the market to date; Menu system and customization options have a steep learning curve; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash.
Read our Olympus E-M1 Review

Superb image quality from RAW files; Improved dynamic range; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 7fps burst rate with unlimited JPEG buffer; High-quality cinema 4K video; Built-in Wi-Fi; Dual Pixel CMOS AF is very good.
JPEG files look soft at default settings; 1/200s flash sync; 4K video codec is cumbersome; 29:59 continuous video recording limit.
Read our Canon 5D Mark IV Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Olympus E-M1

Canon 5D Mark III

$1099
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2139
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2139
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Canon 5D Mark III

Compared to Olympus E-M5

Olympus E-M1

Olympus E-M5

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
Fast startup

$900
4/3

Less expensive
Thinner

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Olympus E-M5

Canon 5D Mark IV

Olympus E-M5

$2499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$900
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Olympus E-M5

Compared to Nikon D810

Olympus E-M1

Nikon D810

$1099
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2346
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2346
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Internal flash

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810

Compared to Panasonic GH3

Olympus E-M1

Panasonic GH3

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Longer stills battery life

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH3

Canon 5D Mark IV

Panasonic GH3

$2499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Internal flash

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Panasonic GH3

Compared to Panasonic GH4

Olympus E-M1

Panasonic GH4

$1099
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
On-sensor phase detect

$898
4/3

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Olympus E-M1 vs Panasonic GH4

Canon 5D Mark IV

Panasonic GH4

$2499
35mm

Larger sensor
Slower slow-motion

$898
4/3

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Panasonic GH4

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