Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II vs Olympus PEN-F — Which Is Better?

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and the Olympus PEN-F are both 2016 Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, so the choice comes down to body role rather than system. The E-M1 Mark II is the larger body at 134 x 91 x 67 mm and 574 g. The PEN-F is the smaller, slimmer one at 125 x 72 x 37 mm and 427 g, a 147 g difference.

The E-M1 Mark II is the stronger choice for action photography. It shoots at up to 60 fps against 10 fps on the PEN-F, and its 121 autofocus points outnumber the PEN-F's 81 for tracking moving subjects. Its 1/32000 second top shutter is also shorter than the PEN-F's 1/16000, which helps freeze fast subjects in bright light.

The imaging fundamentals are a close match, so your lenses and print sizes carry across either way. Both use a CMOS Micro Four Thirds sensor with a Micro 4/3 mount, and resolution differs by only 0.1 megapixels at 20.4 against 20.3. Both also offer in-body stabilisation and a 2,360,000 dot electronic viewfinder, supporting handheld low-shutter shooting and eye-level composition.

The E-M1 Mark II is the better pick for video detail, recording up to 4K at up to 24 fps. The PEN-F tops out at Full HD, but it reaches 60 fps there, so it offers the stronger slow-motion option at that lower output resolution. Those are separate maximum limits, so choose the E-M1 Mark II for 4K projects and the PEN-F for 1080p slow motion.

Both cameras record in MOV or AVI and have built-in timelapse, so interval work needs no external controller on either body.

Shooting in rain, dust or beach spray favours the E-M1 Mark II, because it has weather sealing and the PEN-F does not. The rear screens are a match, a 3-inch LCD with 1,037,000 dots, touch control and a flip-out articulation for waist-level and self-framed shots. Both support Wi-Fi for wireless transfer and accept an external flash while omitting a built-in one. Neither has GPS or Bluetooth.

For a long day of shooting, the E-M1 Mark II holds the advantage. Its dual card slots hold two SD cards at once, while the PEN-F has a single slot. Its BLH-1 battery is rated at 440 shots against 330 shots for the PEN-F's BLN-1, a 110 shot lead on the rated figures. The batteries are different types, so spares are not interchangeable, and neither camera charges over USB.