Olympus E-M5 vs Canon T6i

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Olympus E-M5 vs Canon T6i

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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.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon T6i Review.
How does it shoot? Canon T6i in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the T6i.
Compare Canon T6i image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon T6i conclusion.

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

Succeeded by the Canon T7i
Compare T6i vs T7i

Compare OLYMPUS E-M5 II vs CANON T7I

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Differences

Olympus E-M5 advantages over Canon T6i

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Thinner
43 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
More viewfinder magnification
0.58x vs 0.51x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 29 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
8.9 fps vs 4.8 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.0 fps vs 4.8 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
16 vs 6 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Canon T6i advantages over Olympus E-M5

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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.
T6i test data on DxO Mark E-M5 test data on DxO Mark

919 vs 826 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

440 vs 360 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
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
Less shutter lag
0.09 vs 0.28 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 17 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
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

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
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

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Read E-M5 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read T6i User Reviews

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Buy the Olympus E-M5

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 14-42mm Lens

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Buy the Canon T6i

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm STM lens
Kit with 18-55mm STM lens

All T6i Deals

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

Highest resolution Canon APS-C camera yet; Improved dynamic range over T5i; Good high ISO performance for its class; Very fast autofocus; Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC; Touchscreen tilt/swivel LCD.
Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; Below average battery life; No Servo AF in Live View; No 60p video frame rate.
Read our Canon T6i Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Olympus E-M5

Olympus E-M1

$900
4/3

Thinner
Shoots 60p video

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-M1

Canon T6i

Olympus E-M1

$699
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T6i vs Olympus E-M1

Compared to Nikon D3400

Olympus E-M5

Nikon D3400

$900
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Fast startup

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Nikon D3400

Canon T6i

Nikon D3400

$699
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Canon T6i vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M5

Panasonic G3

$900
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Higher effective ISO

$700
4/3

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic G3

Canon T6i

Panasonic G3

$699
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$700
4/3

Thinner
Lighter weight

Compare Canon T6i vs Panasonic G3

Compared to Olympus E-P5

Olympus E-M5

Olympus E-P5

$900
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
More telephoto lens reach

$1249
4/3

Focus peaking
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Olympus E-P5

Canon T6i

Olympus E-P5

$699
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$1249
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T6i vs Olympus E-P5

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Olympus E-M5

Panasonic GX7

$900
4/3

Higher effective ISO
More telephoto lens reach

$648
4/3

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Olympus E-M5 vs Panasonic GX7

Canon T6i

Panasonic GX7

$699
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon T6i vs Panasonic GX7

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