• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Olympus OM-D E-M5
  • Canon PowerShot G15
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Canon G12
G12 vs G15
Successor: Olympus E-M5 II
E-M5 vs E-M5 II
Canon G16
G15 vs G16
General
Model Number: E-M5 G15
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Compact System Camera Mid-Sized
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1299.99 $499.99
Street Price: $899.95 $649.95
Date Available: 2012-04-15 2012-10-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 23.0 oz (652 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
12.3 oz (350 g)
includes batteries
Size: 4.8 x 3.5 x 1.7 in.
(122 x 89 x 43 mm)
4.2 x 3.0 x 1.6 in.
(107 x 76 x 40 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: Live MOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 16.1 12.1
Sensor Format: 4/3 1/1.7 inch
Sensor size: 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm) 43.32mm2 (7.6mm x 5.7mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 3.75 microns 1.90 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 2.0x n/a
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed  
Self-Cleaning: Yes No
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 71 46
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 22.8 19.9
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.3 11.5
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 826 165
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 2664 (10.7 MP, 3:2),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 MP, 16:9),
2992 x 2992 (9.0 MP, 1:1),
2816 x 2112 (5.9 MP, 4:3),
2816 x 1880 (5.3 MP, 3:2),
2816 x 1584 (4.5 MP, 16:9),
2112 x 2112 (4.5 MP, 1:1),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1064 (1.7 MP, 3:2),
1200 x 1200 (1.4 MP, 1:1),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3),
640 x 424 (0.3 MP, Other),
640 x 360 (0.2 MP, 16:9)
Image File Format: JPEG, MPO, 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.2), 12-bit RAW (.CR2), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 8.9 10.2
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
640x480 (30p)
1920x1080 (24)
1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
Movie File Format: MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG) MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: Stereo PCM)
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds n/a
Lens: Olympus M.Zuiko 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ Digital ED Canon Zoom Lens
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 24 - 100mm 28 - 140mm
Focal Length (actual): 12 - 50mm 6.1 - 30.5mm
Zoom Ratio: 4.20x 5.00x
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 (wide) / f/6.3 - 22 (tele) f/1.8 (W) / f/2.8 (T) - f/8.0
Integrated ND Filter: No Yes
Normal Focus Range: 35 cm to Infinity
13.8 in to Infinity
5 cm to Infinity
2.0 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 20 - 50 cm
7.9 - 19.7 in
1 - 50 cm
0.4 - 19.7 in
Filter Thread: 52.0mm 58.0mm
Thread Type: n/a Via optional lens adapter
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 2x Up to 4x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: High-speed Contrast-detect AF: 35-area multiple AF / All target, Group target area (9-area), Single target Contrast Detect AF with Face Detection; 9-point AiAF, 1-point (center for face select and track)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: EVF / OLED Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: EVF; 1.44M-dot, 1.15x magnification, 18mm eyepoint, -4 to +2 diopter, eye sensor Real-image optical zoom; Picture coverage: approx. 80%; Eyepoint: 15mm; Dioptic Adjustment Range: -3.0 - +1.0m
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: 1,440,000 dots n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.58x  
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 1.15x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 614,000 dots (205,000 px) 922,000 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: Yes No
Articulating Screen: Yes No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom:   10.0x
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 25600 12800
Minimum ISO (native): 200 80
ISO Settings: AUTO: ISO Low (100) - 25600 (customizable, Default 200-1600) / Manual ISO Low (100) - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable Auto, ISO 80 to 12800
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Custom WB, One-touch WB Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Custom 1/2, Underwater
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 60 sec 1/4000 - 15 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot; Face Detect AE
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Scene select AE (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Night, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv., Wide Conv., Macro Conv., 3D Still), Art Filter, Underwater wide / macro Scene modes (Portrait, Smooth Skin, Smart Shutter, High-Speed Burst HQ, Handheld NightScene, Underwater, Snow, Fireworks, Stitch Assist), Creative Filters (High Dynamic Range, Nostalgic, Fish-eye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Soft Focus, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Color Accent, Color Swap)
Self Timer: 2, 10 seconds 1 - 30 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: No Yes
Flash Modes: Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1 (FULL) - 1/64) Auto, Auto w/Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On w/Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; FE lock, Safety FE, Slow Synchro, Second-curtain synchro
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 7.0 m / 23.0 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Bundled FL-LM2 GN = 7m/ISO 100 Auto ISO: 1.6 ft.-23 ft./50 cm-7 m (W), 1.6-15 ft./50cm-4.5m (T)
Max Flash Sync: 1/250 1/2000
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe Hot-Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support: UHS-I  
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG 12-bit RAW (.CR2), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG) MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: Stereo PCM)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Remote cable RM-UC1 Wired
Connections (extended): Micro HDMI (Type-D), combined AV/USB connector, Accessory Port 2 Combined USB/AV, Mini (Type-C) HDMI, Remote Terminal
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.52 2.07
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.51 2.83
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 20 Unlimited
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): 0.56 2.91
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 8.9 10.2
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 17 10
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 9.0 1.2
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 16 20
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 9.0 1.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 15 5
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.28 seconds 0.46 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):   0.46 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.102 seconds 0.454 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.44 seconds 0.71 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.056 seconds 0.073 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full Autofocus, Multi-area AF mode lag = 0.175 second  
Startup Time: 1.1 seconds 2.2 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.7 seconds 1.7 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 4.3 seconds 3.0 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 360 shots 350 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   770 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BLN-1 Proprietary NB-10L
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary BLN-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary NB-10L Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No No
Software
Included Software: Olympus Viewer 2 CD-ROM Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
OS Compatibility:   Windows XP SP3/Vista/7, Mac OS
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: 3" tilting OLED monitor with Touchscreen panel, Hi-res EVF, 5-axis image stabilization, 9 fps burst, Full HD video. Fast f/1.8(W)-f/2.8(T) lens, DIGIC 5 processor, Intelligent Image Stabilization, improved AF performance, 10 fps High-Speed Burst mode, Full HD 1080p24 video, 58 scene Smart Auto, supports conversion lenses.