Canon
EOS R1
Flagship 24.2MP full-frame BSI stacked RF body with 40fps burst, Dual Pixel Intelligent AF, 6K RAW, and 9.44M-dot EVF.
$6,299
Launch priceReleased Jul 2024
OM System
OM-D E-M5
Landmark compact weather-sealed MFT body that put Micro Four Thirds on the map.
$999
Launch priceReleased Feb 2012
EOS R1 is 12.4 years newer.
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Wins
EOS R1
Wins
OM-D E-M5
4 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R1 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- AEOS R1 has higher EVF resolution (9,440,000 vs 2,360,000)
- AEOS R1 has higher Burst (electronic) (40 fps vs 15 fps)
- BOM-D E-M5 has lower Weight (425 g vs 920 g)
- AEOS R1 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (1330 shots vs 640 shots)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
EOS R1
158 × 150 × 87 mm
920 g (2.03 lb / 32.45 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
OM-D E-M5
122 × 90 × 44 mm
425 g (0.94 lb / 14.99 oz)
EOS R1 is 36mm wider, 60mm taller, and 44mm thicker than OM-D E-M5.
EOS R1 is 495 g heavier than OM-D E-M5.
Depth (front-to-back): 87mm EOS R1 · 44mm OM-D E-M5
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R1
158 × 150 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
OM-D E-M5
122 × 90 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R1
158 × 87 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
OM-D E-M5
122 × 44 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R1
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
OM-D E-M5
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R1
Canon RF
105+
native lenses available
OM-D E-M5
✓ more lensesMicro Four Thirds
130+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
EOS R1
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 157.6, 149.5, 87.3
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, CFexpress Type B
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,440,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
40 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds RAW, XF-HEVC S, XF-AVC S
Battery life (CIPA)
1330 shots vs 640 shots — higher is better
Reasons to choose
OM-D E-M5
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 122, 89.6, 43.7
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
Weight
425 g vs 920 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓AF points / zones — Both 1053
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R1
Pros
- ✓40fps electronic burst
- ✓24.2MP BSI stacked full-frame sensor
- ✓Dual Pixel Intelligent AF
- ✓6K RAW and 4K 120p video
- ✓Dual CFexpress Type B slots
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –Very expensive
- –Large integrated-grip body
OM-D E-M5
Pros
- ✓Historic MFT body
- ✓Weather sealed
- ✓Compact
- ✓Built-in EVF
Cons
- –16MP very dated
- –Old AF
- –Superseded many times
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the EOS R1 and OM-D E-M5 at major authorized retailers.
Canon EOS R1
OM System OM-D E-M5
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, EOS R1 or OM-D E-M5?
EOS R1 scores 7.5/10 versus 4.0/10 for OM-D E-M5 — 24.2MP — solid resolution.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R1 and OM-D E-M5?
EOS R1 is 24.2 MP and OM-D E-M5 is 16.1 MP, so the EOS R1 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R1 and OM-D E-M5 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R1 has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while OM-D E-M5 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R1 or the OM-D E-M5?
EOS R1 reaches 40 fps electronic. OM-D E-M5 reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R1 and OM-D E-M5?
EOS R1 weighs 920 g and OM-D E-M5 weighs 425 g, so the OM-D E-M5 is 495 g lighter.
Do the EOS R1 and OM-D E-M5 record 4K video?
EOS R1: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. OM-D E-M5: 4K up to 60p.
Are the EOS R1 and OM-D E-M5 weather sealed?
EOS R1: Yes. OM-D E-M5: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 1,330 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R1 and 640 shots for the OM-D E-M5, giving the EOS R1 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R1 launched at $6,299 and OM-D E-M5 at $999. The OM-D E-M5 is $5,300 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way EOS R1 vs OM-D E-M5 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and OM System press materials.