• 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 160 - 2500
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Leica M9 / M9-P
  • Olympus OM-D E-M5
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:   Olympus E-M5 II
E-M5 vs E-M5 II
General
Model Number: M9 E-M5
Alternate Model Number(s): M9-P  
Camera Format: Rangefinder Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $7999.99 $1299.99
Street Price:   $899.95
Date Available: 2009-09-14 2012-04-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 21.3 oz (605 g)
includes batteries
23.0 oz (652 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.5 x 3.1 x 1.5 in.
(139 x 80 x 37 mm)
4.8 x 3.5 x 1.7 in.
(122 x 89 x 43 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD Live MOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Kodak KAF-18500 Sony
Effective Megapixels: 18.0 16.1
Sensor Format: 35mm 4/3
Sensor size: 855.62mm2 (35.80mm x 23.90mm) 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 6.87 microns 3.75 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.0x 2.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: None Fixed
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 69 71
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 22.5 22.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.7 12.3
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 884 826
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 5212 x 3472 (18.1 MP, 3:2),
3840 x 2592 (10.0 MP, Other),
2592 x 1728 (4.5 MP, 3:2),
1728 x 1152 (2.0 MP, 3:2),
1280 x 846 (1.1 MP, Other)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format: JPEG, .DNG RAW (14-bit, compressed or uncompressed), RAW+JPEG JPEG, MPO, 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.7 8.9
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
640x480 (30p)
Movie File Format:   MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)
Composite Video Out: No Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: n/a Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a No
HD Video Out: No Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Leica M bayonet Micro Four Thirds
Lens: n/a Olympus M.Zuiko 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ Digital ED
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):   24 - 100mm
Focal Length (actual):   12 - 50mm
Zoom Ratio:   4.20x
Aperture Range: Varies with lens used f/3.5 - 22 (wide) / f/6.3 - 22 (tele)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:   35 cm to Infinity
13.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:   20 - 50 cm
7.9 - 19.7 in
Filter Thread: n/a 52.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a Up to 2x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: No Yes
Auto Focus Type: n/a High-speed Contrast-detect AF: 35-area multiple AF / All target, Group target area (9-area), Single target
Auto Focus Assist Light? n/a Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD (playback only) EVF / OLED
Viewfinder Type: Non-TTL bright-line frame rangefinder w/ automatic parallax compensation, 0.68x magnification EVF; 1.44M-dot, 1.15x magnification, 18mm eyepoint, -4 to +2 diopter, eye sensor
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a 1,440,000 dots
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.68x 0.58x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.68x 1.15x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 2.5 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,000 dots 614,000 dots (205,000 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom:    
Top Deck Display: No No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 2500 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 160 200
ISO Settings: Auto, ISO 160 to 2,500 in 1/3EV steps, extendable to ISO 80 AUTO: ISO Low (100) - 25600 (customizable, Default 200-1600) / Manual ISO Low (100) - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Flash, Kelvin Setting, Manual Auto, Lamp, Fluorescent, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Custom WB, One-touch WB
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 32 sec 1/4000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Center-weighted with working aperture Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control
Program Auto Exposure: No Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: No Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: n/a Scene select AE (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Night, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv., Wide Conv., Macro Conv., 3D Still), Art Filter, Underwater wide / macro
Self Timer: 2 or 12 seconds 2, 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): No  
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: No No
Flash Modes: n/a Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1 (FULL) - 1/64)
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a 7.0 m / 23.0 ft.
Flash Range Description: n/a Bundled FL-LM2 GN = 7m/ISO 100
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot shoe Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: .DNG RAW (14-bit, compressed or uncompressed), RAW+JPEG 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG
Movie File Format:   MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 with stereo sound), AVI (Motion JPEG)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: No Yes
DPOF Compliant: No Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Threaded cable release Optional Remote cable RM-UC1
Connections (extended):   Micro HDMI (Type-D), combined AV/USB connector, Accessory Port 2
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.63 0.52
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.66 0.51
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 8 20
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.56
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.7 8.9
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 7 17
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   9.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   16
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   9.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   15
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):   0.28 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.125 seconds 0.102 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):   0.44 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.125 seconds 0.056 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):   Full Autofocus, Multi-area AF mode lag = 0.175 second
Startup Time: 0.8 seconds 1.1 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.1 seconds 0.7 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:   4.3 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   360 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 350 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: 1 x proprietary 3.7v 1900mAh Proprietary BLN-1
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary BLN-1 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Free download of Adobe Lightroom for registered owners Olympus Viewer 2 CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: 3" tilting OLED monitor with Touchscreen panel, Hi-res EVF, 5-axis image stabilization, 9 fps burst, Full HD video.