Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is a compact mirrorless camera from 2015, built around the Micro Four Thirds system. At 469g it is easy to carry, and the weather-sealed body copes with damp conditions outdoors.

The sensor keeps files modest in size, and in-body stabilisation helps when you shoot handheld. Framing is available through the electronic viewfinder or the flipping touchscreen, and WiFi provides wireless connectivity, though Bluetooth is absent.

Owning it involves a little planning. The BLN-1 battery is rated at 310 shots, and images record to a single SD card rather than two.

The E-M5 Mark II pairs a 16.1-megapixel Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with the TruePic VII processor. That resolution suits everyday prints and online sharing, though it leaves less latitude for heavy cropping than higher-megapixel bodies. Our Optics score of 58 reflects a modest overall specification, placing the camera around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

In-body stabilisation is the standout for stills. Because it sits in the camera rather than the lens, it works with any Micro 4/3 lens you mount, helping you shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds. It counteracts camera shake, not a moving subject.

For action, bursts reach up to 10fps, giving several frames to pick from when timing matters. The 1/8000s maximum shutter speed permits very brief exposures, and sensitivity spans ISO 200 to 25600. Autofocus uses 81 points.

Framing happens through a 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder that previews your exposure before you press the shutter, which helps avoid wasted frames in tricky light.

Recording tops out at Full HD resolution, so there is no 4K mode, and the highest video frame rate the camera offers is 60fps. That covers standard web and social delivery well, and our Video score of 70 rates the movie offering as good for this camera.

In-body stabilisation carries over to handheld filming, smoothing the small shakes that make walking footage jittery. The flipping screen also helps here, letting you hold the camera at unusual angles while still seeing your framing.

A built-in intervalometer means you can shoot timelapse sequences without buying a separate remote, which suits subjects like clouds, traffic and sunrises that change gradually.

Footage records in either MOV or AVI file formats.

The 3-inch LCD is sharp at just over a million dots and responds to touch input. It also flips, helping you frame when the camera is not at eye level, and live view is available on the same screen.

The body is weather sealed, so light rain and dust are less of a concern on outdoor shoots. There is no built-in flash, but you can fit an external one when you need extra light.

WiFi is built in for wireless connectivity. Bluetooth is absent, and there is no GPS, so locations are not recorded automatically with your files. Our Features score of 70 rates this feature set as good.

Photos record to a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card. With no second slot, everything lives on one card with no in-camera backup copy, so it pays to carry spare cards and offload important work as you go.

The BLN-1 battery carries a rating of 310 shots, though actual endurance varies with how you shoot. A second battery belongs in the bag for events or longer trips.

The camera does not support USB charging, so you cannot top the battery up over a cable between shoots. Keep a charged spare handy instead. Our Storage & Battery score of 21 reflects these limitations.