Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II vs Olympus PEN-F — Which Is Better?
Side by side47 specifications |
Olympus · Mirrorless · 16.1 MP · Micro Four Thirds · Full HD video
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
59
SCORE
|
Olympus · Mirrorless · 20.3 MP · Micro Four Thirds · Full HD video
Olympus PEN-F
60
WINNER
|
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| General | ||
Read the General ComparisonGeneralThe Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the Olympus PEN-F are both mirrorless Micro Four Thirds cameras, so any Micro 4/3 lens works on either body. The PEN-F arrived in 2016, a year after the E-M5 Mark II. It is the slimmer, lighter body at 125 x 72 x 37 mm and 427 g, against 124 x 85 x 45 mm and 469 g. | ||
Released ⓘRefers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale. |
2015 | 2016 |
Announcement date ⓘRefers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera. |
February 5, 2015 | January 27, 2016 |
| Camera type |  Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Camera size | 124 x 85 x 45 mm | 125 x 72 x 37 mm |
| Camera weight | 469 g | 427 g |
| Optics | 58/100 | 65/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsThe PEN-F is the stronger choice for heavy cropping and large prints, with 20.3 megapixels against 16.1 on the E-M5 Mark II. The extra pixels give more room to tighten a distant wildlife frame or a large group shot. Both use a CMOS sensor in the Micro Four Thirds format, so the print and crop gain comes from the pixel count. The PEN-F also offers a faster maximum shutter of 1/16000 second, twice the 1/8000 second limit of the E-M5 Mark II, for a shorter exposure at wide apertures in bright light. It also drops to 80 ISO at the expanded low setting, against 100 ISO on the E-M5 Mark II. For action, both offer 10 fps burst and 81 autofocus points. Both also include in-body stabilisation and a 2,360,000-dot electronic viewfinder. | ||
Megapixels ⓘThe higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture. |
16.1 MP050 | 20.3 MP050 |
Image resolution ⓘImage resolution is measured in pixels and megapixels, width by height. The higher the number, the higher its resolution. |
4608 x 3456 | 5184 x 3888 |
Sensor type ⓘThe camera sensor captures light and records the image. Sensors vary in physical size, the number of pixels, and quality. |
CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size ⓘThe sensor size contributes to the overall quality as well as the dynamic and tonal range a camera can capture. As a rule of thumb, the more surface there is to read the light, the more information it will capture. |
13 x 17.3 | 13 x 17.4 |
Sensor format ⓘRefers to the most commonly used sensor sizes. |
 Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
Continuous shooting ⓘThe number of sequential frames per second the camera can write to the memory card when shooting in burst or continuous mode. |
10 fps045 | 10 fps045 |
Lens mount ⓘThe lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras. |
Micro 4/3 | Micro 4/3 |
Image processor ⓘThe image processor in the camera converts the information collected on the sensor for digital storage on the memory card. |
TruePic VII | TruePic VII |
Aspect ratio ⓘThe aspect ratio refers to the proportional difference between width and height. The most popular aspect ratios are 3:2 and 4:3. |
 4:3 | 4:3 |
Min ISO ⓘRefers to the lowest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Lower ISO are less sensitive to light but make a cleaner image. |
20030200 | 20030200 |
Max ISO ⓘRefers to the highest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Higher ISO is necessary for low-light situations or night photography, but higher ISOs often introduce grain or noise. |
256003003280000 | 256003003280000 |
Min ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
10030200 | 8030200 |
Max ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
256003003280000 | 256003003280000 |
Minimum shutter speed ⓘThe minimum shutter speed will tell you the longest exposure your camera can take without using an external accessory. |
6044080 | 6044080 |
Max shutter speed ⓘThe maximum shutter speed tells you the length inside 1 second the camera will capture. These can sometimes be extended with accessories such as extra external batteries. |
800080032000 | 1600080032000 |
Autofocus points ⓘAutofocus points show where the camera is focusing graphically as squares or brackets in Live View or on an electronic viewfinder. These points are also used for light meter readings. |
810300 | 810300 |
In-body stabilisation ⓘIn-body Stabilization means the camera has a certain technology embedded that counteracts camera shake. |
 Yes | Yes |
Viewfinder type ⓘThe viewfinder type is either electronic or optical. Electronic viewfinders will have a small screen in the viewfinder. Optical viewfinders will use prisms and mirrors to look through the lens. |
Electronic | Electronic |
| Viewfinder dots | 236000009900000 | 236000009900000 |
| Video | 70/100 | 70/100 |
Read the Video ComparisonVideoFor video, both cameras top out at Full HD resolution, and each offers a 60 fps maximum frame rate. Neither provides 4K room to crop in the edit or fast capture for strong slow motion. Both record in MOV or AVI files and offer a built-in intervalometer for timelapse sequences. | ||
Video ⓘIndicates if this camera is capable of recording video. |
 Yes | Yes |
Max video resolution ⓘThe best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video. |
 Full HD | Full HD |
Max video format ⓘVideo resolution measured by the greatest number of pixels possible in each frame, width by height. A higher resolution means more detail or clarity in your video. |
1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
Max video frame rate ⓘHow many frames per second your video will capture. Most cameras have options for multiple frame rates, depending on the resolution you shoot in. For a general video, 24p or 30p is the standard, but more serious filmmakers may need a higher frame rate for creative effect. |
60 fps | 60 fps |
Timelapse built in ⓘA built in time-lapse mode will allow continuous shooting throughout a prolonged period of time to be compressed into a sped up video. |
 Yes | Yes |
Video file format ⓘDifferent cameras can record in various video file formats. The File format you record in can impact how you edit and use the files. |
MOV, AVI | MOV, AVI |
| Features | 70/100 | 57/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesThe E-M5 Mark II is the body to pick for shooting in rain or dust, because it has weather sealing and the PEN-F does not. Neither camera has GPS for geotagging travel photos, and both use an external flash unit rather than a built-in one. Both offer a 3-inch touch LCD on a flip-out mount, which helps with waist-level shooting and self-framed video. Wi-Fi is present on both for wireless transfer to a phone, while Bluetooth is absent from both. | ||
Builtin flash ⓘA built-in flash will often be positioned right above the lens. This will automatically pop up when you activate it. |
✗ | ✗ |
External flash ⓘExternal flashes are often connected through a hot shoe at the top of a camera, or a cable at the side of the camera. |
 Yes | Yes |
GPS ⓘGPS features in a camera will include location metadata to each of your photographs. |
✗ | ✗ |
Weather sealing ⓘWeather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions. |
 Yes | No |
| Screen type | LCD | LCD |
Touch screen ⓘTouchscreen allows you to change camera settings and access menus with a swipe of your finger, instead of using buttons. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen size | 3" | 3" |
Screen dots ⓘScreen dots indicate the resolution of the LCD screen by including each sub pixel. |
10370001150001500000 | 10370001150001500000 |
Flip screen ⓘA flip screen (or articulating screen) is a second screen which can flip out from the side or top of the camera. This rotating screen allows you more freedom to take photos at different angles. |
 Yes | Yes |
Live view ⓘLive View feature allows you to see a continuous live video of what is being seen through your lens. |
 Yes | Yes |
Wi-Fi ⓘBuilt-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect your camera and share images wirelessly. |
 Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth ⓘBluetooth capabilities allow you wireless control of your camera with other external devices. |
✗ | ✗ |
| Storage & battery | 21/100 | 21/100 |
Read the Storage & battery ComparisonStorage and BatteryBoth cameras take a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card, so neither offers a second slot for backup or overflow on a long shoot. The PEN-F is rated for 330 shots against 310 for the E-M5 Mark II under their rated test conditions, a small margin. Both use the same BLN-1 battery, so spares are interchangeable between the two bodies. Neither supports USB charging, so both need a dedicated charger. | ||
| Memory card | SD / SDHC / SDXC | SD / SDHC / SDXC |
| Dual memory card slots | ✗ | ✗ |
| Battery type | BLN-1 | BLN-1 |
Battery life ⓘApproximately how long this cameras battery will last measured by how many photographs you will be able to take. |
310 shots1505000 | 330 shots1505000 |
| USB charging | ✗ | ✗ |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Choose the Olympus PEN-F if you regularly crop wildlife and travel shots, because its 20.3 megapixels leave more room to tighten those frames. Its 1/16000 second shutter also keeps exposures short at wide apertures in bright light.
Choose the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II if you shoot outdoors in changeable weather, because it has weather sealing and the PEN-F does not. Both use the Micro 4/3 mount, so your lenses carry over to either body, and the main choice rests on resolution versus weather protection.