Olympus OM-D E-M1

    76
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    Highlights

    • 16.3 MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
    • 100 - 25,600 Native ISO
    • 81 Focus Points (81 Cross-type)
    • 5-Axis Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 1,037k dot Tilting Screen
    • 2,360k dot Electronic Viewfinder
    • 10.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
    • 30 min Video Recording Limit
    • Built-In Wi-Fi
    • Wheather Sealed Body
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 was announced in 2013 and is a Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) Mirrorless camera with 16.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 25,600. The camera has a Tilting 3.0" screen with 1,037k dot resolution and built-in Electronic viewfinder with 2,360k dot resolution. It has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 can capture video up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.


    Here is the Olympus OM-D series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Olympus OM-D series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV August
    2020
    20.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M1 III February
    2020
    20.4 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Articulated 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M5 III October
    2019
    20.4 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Articulated 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M1X January
    2019
    20.4 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Articulated 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M10 III August
    2017
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M1 II September
    2016
    20.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Articulated 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M10 II August
    2015
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M5 II February
    2015
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Articulated 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M10 March
    2014
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M1 October
    2013
    16.3 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    100 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    1,037k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Olympus OM-D E-M5 April
    2012
    16.1 MP
    Micro Four Thirds
    200 - 25,600 Tilting 3.0"
    610k dot
    Touchscreen

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs OM-D E-M1 Mark III vs OM-D E-M5 Mark III vs OM-D E-M1X vs OM-D E-M10 Mark III vs OM-D E-M1 Mark II.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Olympus OM-D E-M1.

    PROS

    •   Video Capture
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/320 sec
    •   Webcam Functionality
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 497 g (1.10 lb / 17.53 oz)
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Small Sensor
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Price
    •   Sensor Resolution - 16.3 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 2,360k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 10.0 fps
    •   DxO Overall Score - 73

    Successor

    In 2016 Olympus OM-D E-M1 was replaced by Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Olympus OM-D E-M1 and its successor.

    UPGRADES Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II vs Olympus OM-D E-M1
    Higher Sensor Resolution 20.3 Megapixel vs 16.3 Megapixel
    More Powerful Processor TruePic VIII vs TruePIC VII
    Max Image Resolution 5184 x 3888 vs 4608 x 3456
    More Focus Points 121 vs 81
    Screen Type Fully Articulated vs Tilting
    Higher Max Continuous Shooting 60.0 fps vs 10.0 fps
    Average Metering vs
    Higher DxO Low Light ISO 1312 vs 757
    Higher DxO Color Depth 23.7 vs 23.0
    Higher DxO Dynamic Range 12.8 vs 12.7
    Higher DxO Overall Score 80 vs 73
    Higher Video Resolution 4096 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080
    Higher USB Speed USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Headphone Output vs
    More Storage Slots 2 vs 1
    DOWNGRADES Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II vs Olympus OM-D E-M1
    More Expensive $2000/£1850/€1999 body only, £2400/€2599 with 12-40mm F2.8 vs $1399/£1299
    Higher Native ISO 200 vs 100
    Lower Flash Sync Speed 1/250 sec vs 1/320 sec
    Heavier 574 g (1.27 lb / 20.25 oz) vs 497 g (1.10 lb / 17.53 oz)

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Olympus OM-D E-M1 vs OM-D E-M1 Mark II.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Tilting Touchscreen

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 has a 3.0" Tilting touchscreen with 1,037k dot resolution. Tilting screen makes this camera very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting.


    Electronic Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Electronic viewfinder with 2,360k dot resolution. It has a 100% coverage and 1.48x (0.74x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

    Sensor

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 features a 16.3 megapixel Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with dimensions of 17.3 x 13 mm and a total area of 224.9 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 25,600.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Olympus OM-D E-M1's Micro Four Thirds sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.3 x 13 mm224.9 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with TruePIC VII processor and can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution.


    Lens Mount

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 has Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Due to Micro Four Thirds sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 2x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 2.


    In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera has a built-in 5-Axis Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Olympus OM-D E-M1.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    Built-in Wi-Fi

    Camera has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
      Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.


    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer. There is a Micro HDMI connector for video signal output.


    Battery

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 comes with BLN-1 battery pack with battery life of 350 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Olympus OM-D E-M1's shutter speed can go up to 1/8000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 10.0 fps.


    Flash

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Hot Shoe or PC Terminal or Proprietary or Wireless connection. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/320 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 has dimensions of 130 x 94 x 63 mm (5.13 x 3.68 x 2.48"). It weighs 497 g (1.10 lb / 17.53 oz), so it is a lightweight camera.

    130 mm (5.13")

    94 mm (3.68")

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    94 mm (3.68")

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    63 mm (2.48")

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    Olympus OM-D E-M1 dimensions

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Olympus OM-D E-M1 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    GOOD
    81

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 gets a score of 81 and is GOOD choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    GOOD
    76

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 gets a score of 76 and is GOOD choice for Sports photography.

    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 2,360k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 10.0 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    GOOD
    72

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 gets a score of 72 and is GOOD choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 2,360k dot
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 10.0 fps
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    EXCELLENT
    85

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 gets a score of 85 and is EXCELLENT choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/320 sec
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    EXCELLENT
    87

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 gets a score of 87 and is EXCELLENT choice for Street photography.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 497 g (1.10 lb / 17.53 oz)

    Travel Photography

    EXCELLENT
    86

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 gets a score of 86 and is EXCELLENT choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 497 g (1.10 lb / 17.53 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots

    Olympus OM-D E-M1 Evaluation

    We evaluate Olympus OM-D E-M1 and give score of 76 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    76

    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    67

    We give Olympus OM-D E-M1 a score of 67 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Small Sensor
    •   Sensor Resolution - 16.3 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   25,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   DxO Overall Score - 73

    Photo

    GOOD
    78

    We give Olympus OM-D E-M1 a score of 78 for Photo parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 10.0 fps
    •   High Flash Sync Speed - 1/320 sec

    Video

    POOR
    52

    We give Olympus OM-D E-M1 a score of 52 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Webcam Functionality
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    EXCELLENT
    85

    We give Olympus OM-D E-M1 a score of 85 for Focusing parameters.

    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Touch-to-Focus
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    GOOD
    82

    We give Olympus OM-D E-M1 a score of 82 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Tilting Screen
    •   Touch Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 1,037k dot
    •   Viewfinder Resolution - 2,360k dot

    Connectivity

    EXCELLENT
    87

    We give Olympus OM-D E-M1 a score of 87 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    AVERAGE
    68

    We give Olympus OM-D E-M1 a score of 68 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Light - 497 g (1.10 lb / 17.53 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 350 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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