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OM System

OM-5 Mark II

Compact IP53 Micro Four Thirds body with 20MP Live MOS sensor, 7.5-stop Sync IS, 30fps burst, 4K video, and USB-C charging.

$1,199

Launch price

Released Jun 2025

vs

OM System

OM-D E-M5

Landmark compact weather-sealed MFT body that put Micro Four Thirds on the map.

$999

Launch price

Released Feb 2012

OM-5 Mark II is 13.3 years newer.

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Wins

8categories

OM-5 Mark II

Sports & ActionTravel

Wins

3categories

OM-D E-M5

Sports & ActionTravel

6 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

OM-5 Mark II wins 2 categories·OM-D E-M5 wins 3 categories
  • BOM-D E-M5 has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 121)
  • AOM-5 Mark II has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
  • AOM-5 Mark II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 15 fps)
  • BOM-D E-M5 has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)
  • BOM-D E-M5 has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)

Key specs at a glance

OM-5 Mark IIOM-D E-M5
Resolution20.4 MP16.1 MP
SensorMFTMFT
ISO max102,40025,600
Burst30 fps15 fps
4K30 fps60 fps
IBIS6.5-stop6-stop
Weight417 g425 g
Battery640 shots640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

OM-5 Mark II

125 × 85 × 52 mm

417 g (0.92 lb / 14.71 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

OM-D E-M5

122 × 90 × 44 mm

425 g (0.94 lb / 14.99 oz)

OM-5 Mark II is 4mm shorter than OM-D E-M5 but it is also 3mm wider and 8mm thicker.

OM-5 Mark II is 8 g lighter than OM-D E-M5.

Depth (front-to-back): 52mm OM-5 Mark II · 44mm OM-D E-M5

Sensor size, to scale

OM-5 Mark II

17.4 × 13 mm · Compact / large-type

226 mm² area

OM-D E-M5

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

OM-5 Mark II

✓ more lenses

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

OM-D E-M5

✓ more lenses

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

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

Use caseOM-5 Mark IIOM-D E-M5
Portrait
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Sports & Action
8.5Excellent
8.5Excellent
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
6.0Good✓ wins
Landscape
2.5Limited
3.5Limited✓ wins
Travel
8.0Excellent
8.0Excellent
Wildlife
6.5Good
8.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

OM-5 Mark II

  • AF low-light limit

    -8 EV vs -7 EV — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds People, Birds, Animals…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 125.3, 85.2, 52

  • ISO max (native)

    102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    30 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-I

  • Burst (mechanical)

    10 fps vs 6 fps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds MOV

Reasons to choose

OM-D E-M5

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Human, Animal, Bird…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 122, 89.6, 43.7

  • AF points / zones

    1053 vs 121 — higher is better

  • AA filter

    Only OM-D E-M5 supports it

  • 4K max frame rate

    60 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better

  • Card slots

    2 vs 1 — higher is better

  • Headphone jack (3.5mm)

    Only OM-D E-M5 supports it

Both cameras share

  • AF frame coverageBoth 100 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • Max video bit rateBoth 150 Mbps
  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

OM-5 Mark II

Pros

  • Compact weather-sealed body
  • 7.5-stop Sync IS
  • 30fps burst
  • 4K vertical video

Cons

  • 20MP non-stacked sensor
  • Single card slot
  • Smaller EVF than OM-1

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 OM-5 Mark II and OM-D E-M5 at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

OM-5 Mark II
OM-D E-M5
Resolution
20.4 MP+27%
16.1 MP
Sensor type
4/3 Live MOS
Four Thirds Live MOS
Sensor size
17.4 x 13.0 mm
17.3 × 13.0 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
OM-5 Mark II
OM-D E-M5
Processor
TruePic IX
TruePic X
OM-5 Mark II
OM-D E-M5
ISO min (native)
80−20 less
100
ISO max (native)
102,400+2 stops
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
OM-5 Mark II
OM-D E-M5
Shutter type
Computerised focal-plane shutter + electronic shutter
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/32000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for video, OM-5 Mark II or OM-D E-M5?

OM-D E-M5 scores 6.0/10 versus 4.5/10 for OM-5 Mark II — 4K recording.

What's the resolution difference between the OM-5 Mark II and OM-D E-M5?

OM-5 Mark II is 20.4 MP and OM-D E-M5 is 16.1 MP, so the OM-5 Mark II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the OM-5 Mark II and OM-D E-M5 have in-body image stabilization?

OM-5 Mark II has 6.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while OM-D E-M5 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-5 Mark II or the OM-D E-M5?

OM-5 Mark II reaches 30 fps electronic. OM-D E-M5 reaches 15 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the OM-5 Mark II and OM-D E-M5?

OM-5 Mark II weighs 417 g and OM-D E-M5 weighs 425 g, so the OM-5 Mark II is 8 g lighter.

Do the OM-5 Mark II and OM-D E-M5 record 4K video?

OM-5 Mark II: 4K up to 30p. OM-D E-M5: 4K up to 60p.

Are the OM-5 Mark II and OM-D E-M5 weather sealed?

OM-5 Mark II: Yes. OM-D E-M5: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-5 Mark II and 640 shots for the OM-D E-M5, giving the OM-D E-M5 the edge.

How much does each cost?

OM-5 Mark II launched at $1,199 and OM-D E-M5 at $999. The OM-D E-M5 is $200 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way OM-5 Mark II vs OM-D E-M5 vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.