• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 30.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 40,000

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Differences

Olympus E-M5 advantages over Canon EOS R

  • Less expensive
    $900 vs $2499
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Fast startup
    ~1.10 vs 2.1 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Thinner
    43 mm vs 84 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    652g vs 1360g
    Lighter weight
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.9 fps vs 8.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.0 fps vs 8.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Canon EOS R advantages over Olympus E-M5

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • 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 (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,742 vs 826 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    6 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    2100k vs 614k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.10 vs 0.28 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.76x vs 0.58x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    30.3 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    126 vs 17 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    65 vs 16 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • 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
  • 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

  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus E-M5

Review Excerpt

  • Attractive body design; Well-built, weather-sealed body; Excellent image quality; Excellent image stabilization; Very fast autofocus.

  • Exposure compensation dial changes easily; Small buttons; No in-camera chromatic aberration correction; Bundled flash is weak; Video compression artifacts with rapidly-moving subjects.

  • Very good overall image quality; Good dynamic range & very good high ISO performance; Excellent Dual Pixel CMOS AF performance; Sharp native lenses; Great performance with adapted optics; Compact design; Fully articulating LCD.

  • Sensor performance lags behind competition; No In-Body Image Stabilization; Sluggish burst speed with C-AF; Mediocre battery life; No 4Kp60; 1.7x 4K crop; Ergonomics could be better.

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Olympus E-M5
Olympus E-M1
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Thinner
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Fast startup
Canon EOS R
Olympus E-M1
  • $1583
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M5
Panasonic G3
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Internal flash
  • More viewfinder magnification
Canon EOS R
Panasonic G3
  • $1583
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • Internal flash

Compared to Panasonic G5

Olympus E-M5
Panasonic G5
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Internal flash
Canon EOS R
Panasonic G5
  • $1583
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking
  • $550
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M5
Panasonic GX7
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
Canon EOS R
Panasonic GX7
  • $1583
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Larger sensor
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Nikon Z7

Olympus E-M5
Nikon Z7
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Canon EOS R
Nikon Z7
  • $1583
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $2147
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Fast startup
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