Cameraegg Compare logoCameraegg

OM System

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Pro MFT body with 60fps stills and rugged build before the OM-1 era.

$1,699

Launch price

Released Nov 2016

vs
PEN

OM System

PEN

First OM SYSTEM-branded PEN: compact rangefinder-style Micro Four Thirds body with 20.4MP Live MOS, 5-axis IBIS, built-in EVF, IPX1 sealing, and in-camera computational modes.

$1,000

Launch price

Released Sep 2026

PEN is 9.8 years newer.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Wins

10categories

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

WildlifeSports & Action

Wins

4categories

PEN

TravelVlogging

3 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

OM-D E-M1 Mark II wins 5 categories·PEN wins 0 categories
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark II has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 121)
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark II has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 29 frames)
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark II has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 200)
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark II has higher 4K max frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps)
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark II has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)

Key specs at a glance

OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPEN
Resolution20.4 MP20.4 MP
SensorMFTMFT
ISO max25,60025,600
Burst20 fps30 fps
4K60 fps30 fps
IBIS7-stop5.5-stop
Weight580 g393 g
Battery640 shots410 shots

Size and weight, to scale

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

134 × 91 × 72 mm

580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

PEN front view

PEN

126 × 75 × 43 mm

393 g (0.87 lb / 13.86 oz)

OM-D E-M1 Mark II is 8mm wider, 17mm taller, and 29mm thicker than PEN.

OM-D E-M1 Mark II is 187 g heavier than PEN.

Depth (front-to-back): 72mm OM-D E-M1 Mark II · 43mm PEN

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

134 × 91 mm

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

PEN back view

PEN

126 × 75 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

134 × 72 mm

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

PEN top view

PEN

126 × 43 mm

Sensor size, to scale

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

PEN

17.4 × 13 mm · Compact / large-type

226 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

✓ more lenses

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

PEN

✓ 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-D E-M1 Mark IIPEN
Portrait
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Sports & Action
8.5Excellent✓ wins
6.0Good
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good✓ wins
3.0Limited
Landscape
3.5Limited✓ wins
2.5Limited
Travel
7.5Good
7.5Good
Wildlife
9.0Excellent✓ wins
5.5Fair
Vlogging
7.0Good✓ wins
6.5Good

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

  • AF low-light limit

    -7 EV vs -3.5 EV — lower is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 134, 91, 72

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II

  • AF points / zones

    1053 vs 121 — higher is better

  • RAW buffer depth

    120 frames vs 29 frames — higher is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Animal, Bird, Vehicle

  • AA filter

    Only OM-D E-M1 Mark II supports it

  • ISO min (native)

    100 vs 200 — lower is better

Reasons to choose

PEN

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 125.8, 74.5, 43.3

  • Card types

    Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Dog, Cat

  • Codecs

    Adds MOV, MPEG-4 AVC

  • Max video bit rate

    240 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better

  • Burst (electronic)

    30 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better

  • Weight

    393 g vs 580 g — lower is better

  • EVF magnification

    1.1 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • ResolutionBoth 20.4 MP
  • ISO max (native)Both 25,600
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • In-body stabilization (IBIS)Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Pros

  • 60fps stills
  • Pro build
  • Great wildlife MFT

Cons

  • Superseded
  • 20MP
  • MFT sensor

PEN

Pros

  • 393g rangefinder body with built-in 2.36M-dot EVF
  • First PEN with IPX1 dust/splash sealing
  • 5-axis IBIS up to 5.5 stops + 121-point cross-type AF
  • Hi-Res, Live ND, Focus Stacking, HDR via CP button
  • 4K / C4K video, vertical video, 3.5mm mic jack

Cons

  • Micro Four Thirds sensor vs APS-C/FF rivals
  • 4K capped at 30p (C4K 24p only)
  • IPX1 is lighter sealing than OM-5 II / OM-3
  • Single SD slot, no headphone jack

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the OM-D E-M1 Mark II and PEN at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

OM-D E-M1 Mark II
PEN
Resolution
20.4 MP
20.4 MP
Sensor type
Four Thirds Live MOS
MOS
Sensor size
17.3 × 13.0 mm
17.4 x 13
AA filter
Yes
No
OM-D E-M1 Mark II
PEN
Processor
TruePic X
TruePic IX
OM-D E-M1 Mark II
PEN
ISO min (native)
100−100 less
200
ISO max (native)
25,600
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
25,600
OM-D E-M1 Mark II
PEN
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter and Electronic Rolling Shutter
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/4000
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/3200

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for wildlife, OM-D E-M1 Mark II or PEN?

OM-D E-M1 Mark II scores 9.0/10 versus 5.5/10 for PEN — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.

What's the resolution difference between the OM-D E-M1 Mark II and PEN?

Both cameras share the same 20.4 MP resolution.

Do the OM-D E-M1 Mark II and PEN have in-body image stabilization?

OM-D E-M1 Mark II has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while PEN has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-D E-M1 Mark II or the PEN?

OM-D E-M1 Mark II reaches 20 fps electronic. PEN reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the OM-D E-M1 Mark II and PEN?

OM-D E-M1 Mark II weighs 580 g and PEN weighs 393 g, so the PEN is 187 g lighter.

Do the OM-D E-M1 Mark II and PEN record 4K video?

OM-D E-M1 Mark II: 4K up to 60p. PEN: 4K up to 30p.

Are the OM-D E-M1 Mark II and PEN weather sealed?

OM-D E-M1 Mark II: Yes. PEN: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-D E-M1 Mark II and 410 shots for the PEN, giving the OM-D E-M1 Mark II the edge.

How much does each cost?

OM-D E-M1 Mark II launched at $1,699 and PEN at $1,000. The PEN is $699 less.

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

Add any camera to get a three-way OM-D E-M1 Mark II vs PEN vs X comparison.

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

Product images courtesy of OM System press materials.