Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Review | 108 Data compared

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II features a robust, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body and a highly effective 5-axis in-body image stabilization system. Key strengths highlighted in the test include a sharp, large electronic viewfinder, a versatile articulating touchscreen, and an innovative 40-megapixel High-Res Shot mode. Drawbacks identified in the review include an overly complex menu system, which is challenging to navigate, and a lack of on-sensor phase detection, resulting in slower autofocus performance for fast-action sports. Additionally, the camera requires an external flash attachment and exhibits lower detail resolution at higher ISO levels compared to competitors.

The CHIP review evaluates the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II as a high-performing Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera (DSLM) that stands out for its exceptional speed and technical features. A major highlight is its extremely efficient 5-axis image stabilization, which compensates for 5 to 6 exposure stops and enables sharp handheld photography even at long focal lengths and slow shutter speeds. The camera introduces an innovative "High Res." mode that shifts the standard 16-megapixel sensor to generate highly detailed 40-megapixel composite shots. It is housed in a lightweight, 440-gram weather-sealed magnesium body and features a very sharp 2.4-million-dot electronic viewfinder, a 3-inch swiveling touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and a rapid autofocus system with 81 contrast-detect zones. For video, it offers Full HD recording at 60 frames per second with a 52 MBit data rate and a microphone input. Despite these strengths, the review highlights several distinct drawbacks. The most significant flaw is its poor handling of fine details, as the camera's heavy software noise reduction aggressively blurs and "erases" fine textures starting at relatively low sensitivities like ISO 800. Furthermore, while the...

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II features a 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor, carrying over a similar image and noise performance seen in earlier models like the E-M10. A major highlight of this model is its exceptionally powerful 5-axis image stabilization system, which allows users to capture sharp handheld photos at slow shutter speeds like 1/13 or 1/20 of a second, while also making smooth, shake-free handheld filmmaking possible. Additionally, the review praises the camera's high-quality, solid body build with improved button placement, the inclusion of a versatile mode-switching lever, and a newly introduced 40-megapixel High-Resolution Shot mode that delivers impressive image details when paired with a tripod and static subjects. On the downside, the reviewer expresses mixed feelings about the new fully articulating flip screen; while it is highly beneficial for filming and selfies, it is slower to deploy and less convenient for traditional photography than the old tilting screen style. A notable physical limitation is the lack of a second memory card slot. Software limitations also hinder the experience, as the camera's Wi-Fi implementation does not support background...

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II (referred to as the E-M5 II) is a highly capable mirrorless system camera that significantly improves upon its predecessor while matching the overall test score of the flagship E-M1. Encased in a robust, weather-sealed magnesium body rated for temperatures down to -10°C, it introduces a newly integrated Wi-Fi module and a fully articulating touchscreen monitor. Key technical enhancements include a redesigned 5-axis image stabilization system that compensates for five exposure stops and enables an innovative 40-megapixel high-resolution shooting mode for static subjects via sensor shifting. Furthermore, the camera's upgraded video mode offers Full HD recording across all standard frame rates up to 60 fps, All-I compression at 77 Mbit/s, focus peaking, and multi-angle audio capabilities via an external flash attachment and optional battery grip.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is a robust Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera featuring a 15.9-megapixel sensor and a highly capable 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization system that delivers up to four to five stops of compensation. The camera offers good overall image quality with well-controlled noise up to ISO 800, and usable performance up to ISO 3,200. Performance speeds are incredibly fast, boasting a burst rate of up to 10.8 frames per second in JPEG mode and a swift autofocus acquisition time of just 0.11 seconds. Additionally, it features a premium, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (2.36 million subpixels), and an advanced High-Resolution Shot mode for capturing static product or landscape scenes with enhanced detail. Videographers will benefit from Full HD 1080p recording at 60fps, All-Intra coding options, and a 3.5mm microphone jack. On the downside, the review notes a sluggish 3.10-second delay for the display status information to fully initialize after powering on, even though the live view feed shows up much quicker. Color accuracy also shows significant deviations, particularly in the green channel. Ergonomically,...

The camera's primary strengths (pros) include an exceptionally effective built-in 5-axis image stabilizer that counteracts camera shake, an crisp high-resolution electronic viewfinder, and a fully weather-sealed, freeze-resistant (-10°C) body fit for professional use. Furthermore, its contrast-detection autofocus is quick and precise when shooting with shorter focal lengths. On the downside (cons), its 16-megapixel image sensor struggles at high ISO sensitivities, leading to muddy details and flat color transitions beyond ISO 1600. Additionally, its tracking autofocus is too slow for fast-paced sports or action photography when using telephoto lenses, and the dual control wheels cannot be locked, making them prone to accidental adjustments.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II features an innovative High Resolution mode that takes eight consecutive shots while shifting the sensor by half a pixel between exposures. This technique combines the frames to deliver a highly detailed 40-megapixel JPEG or an impressive 60-megapixel RAW file, significantly outperforming the camera's standard resolution. In a real-world test using an Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 lens at 150mm to stitch a 117-shot panorama of Prague, the reviewer noted that the exceptional sharpness and immense detail allowed for extreme zooming, down to making license plates legible. However, the biggest disadvantage of this high-resolution feature is its strict requirement for absolute stability; neither the camera nor the subject can move during the process. Because of this limitation, motion blur from moving elements in the frame can easily compromise the final image, making it less suitable for dynamic environments. Additionally, the massive file sizes pose a practical drawback, as individual high-res RAW files can exceed 100 MB, rapidly filling up storage space—such as the 16 GB memory card exhausted during this test—and demanding significant computer processing power for...

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is a compact and lightweight system camera that delivers excellent build quality and tactile usability, making its buttons easy to differentiate even in complete darkness. It boasts highly praised features like "Live Time" and "Live Bulb" for real-time lightbrush photography, a highly effective 5-axis image stabilization system that handles handheld macro shots at shutter speeds as low as 1/8s, and a high-resolution 40-megapixel shooting mode for static subjects. Additionally, photographers will appreciate the built-in electronic level for precise panoramas, the ability to trigger automated HDR bracketing with a single click, and seamless wireless connectivity via a smartphone app for remote framing. However, the camera comes with a steep learning curve due to an overwhelming, overly technical menu system and a manual that is difficult to understand, making settings like RAW+JPEG activation frustratingly complex. The touchscreen can easily lock or shut down unexpectedly due to the eye sensor misinterpreting hand movements, and changing the battery requires completely removing the camera from a standard tripod. Performance-wise, the camera suffers from a disruptive 3.5-second processing delay after...

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is widely celebrated by users as a highly reliable, compact, and aesthetically pleasing Micro Four Thirds system camera. It features a 17.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and an upgraded, class-leading 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization system that allows for incredibly sharp handheld shots even at slow shutter speeds. Reviewers highlight its robust, weather-sealed metal chassis and highly articulated 3-inch touchscreen LCD as major advantages for travel, landscape, and outdoor photography. The camera also introduces a specialized High-Resolution Shot mode capable of capturing detailed 40-megapixel composite JPEGs when secured on a tripod. YouTube · However, the camera shows its limitations when it comes to low-light environments, where its smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor falls short of full-frame or APS-C alternatives in noise management. Its 81-point contrast-detect autofocus system is fast and reliable for static subjects like portraits and landscapes, but it is considered dated for moving subjects due to a lack of modern tracking tenacity. Additionally, the camera's external design draws minor criticism for pairing a premium metal body with a plastic power switch, and the highly advanced...