Olympus E-M5 vs Canon G1X Mark II

Cameras
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Olympus E-M5 vs Canon G1X Mark II

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M5 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M5.

1.5 inch 233.8mm²
13.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 120.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G1X Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon G1X Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G1X Mark II.
Compare Canon G1X Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon G1X Mark II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M5 II
Compare E-M5 vs E-M5 II

Succeeded by the Canon G1X Mark III
Compare G1X Mark II vs G1X Mark III

Compare OLYMPUS E-M5 II vs CANON G1X MARK III

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Differences

Olympus E-M5 advantages over Canon G1X Mark II

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Fast startup
~1.10 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
E-M5 test data on DxO Mark G1X Mark II test data on DxO Mark

826 vs 581 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
E-M5 test data on DxO Mark G1X Mark II test data on DxO Mark

12.3 vs 10.8 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

360 vs 240 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
43 mm vs 66 mm
Thinner
More pixels
16.1 vs 13.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
8.9 fps vs 5.3 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.0 fps vs 1.4 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Canon G1X Mark II advantages over Olympus E-M5

Less expensive
$599* vs $900
Save money for lenses or accessories
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Higher-res screen
346k vs 205k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 17 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 16 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read E-M5 User Reviews

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Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 14-42mm Lens

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Review Excerpt

Attractive body design; Well-built, weather-sealed body; Excellent image quality; Excellent image stabilization; Very fast autofocus.
Exposure compensation dial changes easily; Small buttons; No in-camera chromatic aberration correction; Bundled flash is weak; Video compression artifacts with rapidly-moving subjects.
Read our Olympus E-M5 Review

Wider, longer, faster lens than predecessor, with good overall optical quality; Faster AF performance; Closer macro shooting; Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC with remote shooting; Decent JPEG burst performance; Excellent build quality.
Localized flare issue when wide open; No real net improvement in image quality over predecessor; Slow burst mode when shooting RAW files; Poor battery life; Video quality is so-so (not like Canon DSLRs).
Read our Canon G1X Mark II Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Olympus E-M5

Olympus E-M1

$900
4/3

Less expensive
Thinner

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-M1

Canon G1X Mark II

Olympus E-M1

$599
1.5 inch

Less expensive
NFC

$1099
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Fast startup

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Olympus E-M1

Compared to Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M5

Panasonic G3

$900
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Higher effective ISO

$700
4/3

Internal flash
More viewfinder magnification

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3

Canon G1X Mark II

Panasonic G3

$599
1.5 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$700
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Fast startup

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Panasonic G3

Compared to Panasonic G5

Olympus E-M5

Panasonic G5

$900
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
More telephoto lens reach

$550
4/3

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G5

Canon G1X Mark II

Panasonic G5

$599
1.5 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$550
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Fast startup

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Panasonic G5

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M5

Panasonic GX7

$900
4/3

Higher effective ISO
More telephoto lens reach

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GX7

Canon G1X Mark II

Panasonic GX7

$599
1.5 inch

Integrated ND filter
Bigger RAW buffer

$648
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Panasonic GX7

Compared to Panasonic LX100

Olympus E-M5

Panasonic LX100

$900
4/3

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic LX100

Canon G1X Mark II

Panasonic LX100

$599
1.5 inch

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$598
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Panasonic LX100

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