Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus introduced the OM-D E-M5 in 2012 as a compact mirrorless camera. At 425 g and 122 x 89 x 43 mm, it is light enough to carry comfortably and small enough to travel in a shoulder bag rather than a large case.

The Micro Four Thirds sensor pairs with the Micro 4/3 lens mount, so the camera takes lenses built for that standard.

Weather sealing and in-body stabilisation make it a comfortable companion outdoors, steadying handheld shots when conditions turn damp or grey.

A 16.1 megapixel CMOS sensor in the Micro Four Thirds format sits behind the Micro 4/3 mount, with the TruePic VI processor producing the images. That resolution covers everyday prints and reasonable cropping. The camera sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics, and its Optics score of 54 reflects a modest overall showing.

In-body stabilisation is the strongest stills feature here. Because the correction happens in the body, every lens you attach benefits, and reduced camera shake lets you handhold at slower shutter speeds. It only counters your own movement, so moving subjects still need a faster shutter of their own.

Burst shooting reaches 9 fps, which is quick for grabbing short action sequences, though that figure is a maximum rate rather than a sustained promise. The 35 autofocus points give you a choice of focus placements when framing.

Sensitivity runs from a base of ISO 200 up to 25600, and the shutter reaches 1/4000 s. Wide apertures or long exposures in strong light may need a neutral density filter to stay within those bounds.

The E-M5 records video, with resolution topping out at Full HD and frame rates reaching 30 fps. The two figures are separate maximums rather than a confirmed combined recording mode. Those ceilings, along with the missing built-in timelapse mode, give the Video section its modest score of 43.

Files record as MOV or AVI, giving a choice of two container formats for your footage. Neither option changes the resolution or frame-rate limits.

There is no built-in timelapse mode, so the camera cannot run interval shooting on its own and anyone wanting that effect needs another approach. That absence, together with the resolution ceiling, keeps video suited to casual clips, family footage and web sharing, not 4K-era production work.

The 3-inch OLED screen combines touch control with a flip-out mechanism. You can shoot from low or high angles and review shots on a 610,000-dot display with live view. The touchscreen, the display and live view contribute to a good Features score of 65.

Weather sealing protects the body against dust and splashes. It is not waterproofing, so heavy rain still calls for care, but it makes the camera easier to carry through changeable conditions.

There is no built-in flash, though the camera supports an external one. Indoors and after dark, you rely on the in-body stabiliser and higher ISO settings unless you add a flash.

There is no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS. Images therefore cannot leave the camera over a built-in wireless connection, and there is no built-in location tagging for your shots.

A single slot takes SD, SDHC or SDXC cards. With no second slot there is no in-camera backup or overflow, so it pays to carry a card with enough capacity for the whole shoot.

The BLN-1 battery is rated for 310 shots. That figure does not promise a full day out, so a spare battery is sensible for longer sessions.

There is no USB charging, so the battery charges in an external charger, not over a USB cable. On the road, that means packing the charger along with any spares. These constraints together leave the Storage & Battery section with a limited score of 21.