• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • APS-C 368.2mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800

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Differences

Olympus E-M5 advantages over Fujifilm X-T2

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • 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
  • More telephoto lens reach
    100 mm vs 84 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens

Fujifilm X-T2 advantages over Olympus E-M5

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 13 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 614k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.05 vs 0.28 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.77x vs 0.58x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Doesn't require an AA filter
    Yes vs No
    A unique sensor design provides sharp photos without moiré
  • Longer exposure
    900 vs 60 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    13.7 fps vs 8.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    32 vs 17 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    13.7 fps vs 9.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    26 vs 16 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 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
  • 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

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Buy the Olympus E-M5

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Fujifilm X-T2

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.

  • Excellent image quality from both JPEGs and RAW files; Superb high ISO performance; Very fast hybrid AF; Robust weather sealing; Dual UHS-II card slots; 4K video.

  • Precise manual focus is tricky with fly-by-wire focusing; Battery life is only decent; Video quality still not on par with competing cameras.

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
Fujifilm X-T2
Olympus E-M1
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compared to Olympus E-M1 II

Olympus E-M5
Olympus E-M1 II
  • $900
  • 4/3
  • Thinner
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Fujifilm X-T2
Olympus E-M1 II
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

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
Fujifilm X-T2
Panasonic G3
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Touchscreen

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
Fujifilm X-T2
Olympus E-P5
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $1249
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

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
Fujifilm X-T2
Panasonic GX7
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $648
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
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