Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-M10

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Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-M10

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APS-C 372.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D5000.

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

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M10 Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M10 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M10.
Compare Olympus E-M10 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M10 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5100
Compare D5000 vs D5100

Succeeded by the Olympus E-M10 II
Compare E-M10 vs E-M10 II

Compare NIKON D5100 vs OLYMPUS E-M10 II

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Differences

Nikon D5000 advantages over Olympus E-M10

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.50 vs 3.75 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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

510 vs 320 shots
Capture more photos
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 19 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Olympus E-M10 advantages over Nikon D5000

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Thinner
45 mm vs 80 mm
Thinner
Newer
11 years vs 16 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More dots on screen
1037k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More viewfinder magnification
0.58x vs 0.52x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
16.1 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
8.1 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.1 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
15 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

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

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Buy the Nikon D5000

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Buy the Olympus E-M10

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 14-42mm Lens

Review Excerpt

Read our Nikon D5000 Full Review

Great image quality especially from RAW files; Excellent dynamic range for a Four Thirds sensor; Very good high ISO performance; Realistic colors and excellent hue accuracy; Built-in Wi-Fi with remote control and sharing features; Improved HD video; Lightweight and very portable; Built-in pop-up flash; Minimal EVF lag time.
Contrast-Detect AF struggles with small and low-contrast subjects; Mediocre battery life; No external microphone or headphone jack; Mediocre burst speed with continuous AF; No weather sealing; Heavy-handed high ISO noise reduction.
Read our Olympus E-M10 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A350

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A350

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$900
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A350

Olympus E-M10

Sony DSLR-A350

$399
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$900
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Sony DSLR-A350

Compared to Sony DSLR-A300

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A300

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$563
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Olympus E-M10

Sony DSLR-A300

$399
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$563
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Compared to Sony DSLR-A390

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A390

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$507
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Olympus E-M10

Sony DSLR-A390

$399
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$507
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Nikon D5000

Panasonic GX7

$850
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M10

Panasonic GX7

$399
4/3

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$648
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic GX7

Compared to Olympus E-M10 II

Nikon D5000

Olympus E-M10 II

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$349
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-M10 II

Olympus E-M10

Olympus E-M10 II

$399
4/3

$349
4/3

Fast startup
Shoots 24p video

Compare Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus E-M10 II

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