Dedicated cameras are always good for those who want to get into the hobby or to polish the skill. But, a professional camera can be quite expensive which is why it is probably wise to consider the older variants such as Olympus OMD EM10 Mark II Vs OMD EM5 Mark II because they are still very much reliable but are far cheaper than the newer releases. These cameras have their own limitations too however so before deciding the option, let’s see which will fit you better here.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Why Choosing an Old Camera
- What are OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II
- How are the Design of OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II
- What are the Specs of OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II
- How are the Experience with OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II
- How are the Image Stabilization in OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II
- OMD EM10 Mark II Vs OMD EM5 Mark II
Buying an Older Camera
The technology is always improving and the latter products benefit from the new finding as well as a more effective process which makes a lot of new devices far more reliable than its predecessor that is only a few years older. The same can’t be said for a camera because in general it is not moving as fast as for example our smartphone today where last year’s phone is no longer as interesting as the newer one. If you are the type who keeps up with technology, the newest options are always favorable.
For cameras, even a 10 years old device can still be used as long as they are not broken or still working properly. For DSLR in example, they typically last from 5 to 10 years but could be longer as well because this type of camera is designed to last for a pretty long time. The most casual DSLR cameras probably can do for at least 100,000 shutter actuations while the professional range can do at least four times more.
In terms of lasting ability, the chance is low that we will wear it out before investing in a new camera. If you just need to capture good quality photos, any older cameras will do the job. They are still working reliably, very affordable, as well as more suitable as a beginner or as a learning tool before you spend on the more expensive choice. When it comes to photography, most of the picture quality is decided by the user so skill is still a very important point.
Let’s say a beginner with the newest, most expensive camera competing against seasoned photographers with their several years old device the result will most likely show what skill over the years plays in the shot taken. But, things will be different if two people with the same level of skill, especially those with more experience using a newest device and the other is a pretty old one. People with knowledge on how to optimize their device will be able to capture the better image or capture it easier.
Depending on the type of application or what you are going to capture the most with the camera, our choice can be different. For example, advances in technology make cameras much faster now but if portraits and landscape are your focus, not all of us will benefit from having a 15 fps burst rate. On the other hand, if sport and wildlife photography is your passion then we will need this type of ability. Read also: Olympus PEN E PL7 Vs PL8.
| OMD EM10 Mark II | OMD EM5 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 4.7 x 2.8 x 3.3 inches | 4.88 x 1.77 x 3.35 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1.1 pounds | 1.03 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II
Newest camera is not a must and older releases are not always bad as well but the most important is getting the device that matches with your application the most. For beginners, an older camera is a great alternative because we can save the budget for when the skill is improved thus, we can optimize the high capability of the newer camera. There are more than plenty to choose from based on the brand, type, budget, and your own preference.
Most brands usually keep their collection for years until a new model is launched and even so the previous models are still easily found. Olympus is one of the most prominent players in the market for anyone who wants to get their first serious camera meant to build the skill or even as your secondary camera to accompany the higher-end variant. You can find their several years old favorite easily too if the newer iterations are not as interesting or too costly for the budget.
Some of the famous cameras from Olympus are OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II which are both currently in their fourth and third iteration. The original cameras were favorites of many for their ability to shoot great photos and also came with professional control to let us get used to the cameras on the higher-end. They are not the same however and probably not as interesting anymore today considering how other brands move with their cropped and full-size cameras.
But, in terms of usability and the way they can provide what most people want when it comes to capturing the photos, both OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II are more than adequate. The core of these cameras are the same so for the result they will be very much similar as well and what set the two apart prominently is probably the control and handling. Personally we like any of the two yet, for the overall quality the latter can be the better option instead.
OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II Design
First let’s see the camera first and while they are released around the same time, the design is not identical at all. The grip is very similar and they are rather shallow compared to many other cameras. However, the body is quite thick so handling is not a problem here. The cameras almost have the same layout but not the same. When you check the upper panel, EM10 Mark II is cramming three knobs on the left side while the EM5 Mark II is more forgiving by putting the mode dial on the left side.
Just like many Olympus cameras, these two are providing a wide range of customization on the menu and in general can be quite complicated, especially for the first time users. In comparison the shape and styling of these cameras are almost the same with EM5 Mark II being the slightly bigger option. What’s prominently different besides the upper control is their rear screen because EM5 Mark II is fully articulating while the EM10 is only tilting.
OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II Specs
Moving further, let’s see what the OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II can offer starting from the basic specs first. As you may already know, they are a micro four-third mirrorless camera so the sensor is approximately 17.3 x 13 mm and with an effective pixel of 16MP which has been proven to work great for numerous times. They are CMOS type and the cameras are shipped with TruePic VII processor. Both cameras can also shoot at JPEG or RAW when you will post edit it later.
As for the autofocus they are also very much the same and as quite an old camera, there is only contrast detection here. There are a total of 81 AF points on the sensor and while in performance they are not the most capable, we do think you can still capture good pictures with them. Face detection is also useful and we can touch the screen to decide the focus point.
OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II Experience
Next is for the shooting experience because this seems to be what set the OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II apart the most. Having an articulating screen is great because it is easier to compose the image in various settings compared to when it is just a tilting screen. Both cameras have a good electric viewfinder but not the same because EM5 Mark II is 1.48x while the EM10 Mark II is 1.23x yet, the quality or screen is similar at 2.3M dots.
The EM5 Mark II also has the faster burst rate at 10 fps compared to the latter camera which is at 8 fps. Capturing the best image quality we can afford with these cameras is highly dependable on the skill but in general you will get the same level of detail because they are developed around the same time.
OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II Image Stabilization
What’s noticeably different is when it comes to image stabilization because the OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II are boasting the 5-axis stabilization so we are happy to use them for video recording even though it is limited to Full HD or 1080p only. However, the stabilizations are not the same because EM5 Mark II footage is more stabilized compared to EM10 Mark II. The unstabilized footage actually looks the same but very different when the stabilization is on.
OMD EM10 Mark II vs OMD EM5 Mark II
Both are not the best cameras you can buy today but they are some of the best in the price point. Budget is probably the only reason why you may want to get quite an old system but OMD EM10 Mark II and OMD EM5 Mark II are still very reliable to build the skill or just as a casual dedicated camera that we can bring along in the journey. EM5 Mark II is a higher model in general with better rear screen and EVF, as well as more reliable IS.
Conclusion
You can go well with any of the two, based on which seems to fit in your preference the most. Personally we will recommend the EM5 Mark II mostly for the image stabilization because it is far more reliable as well as for its articulating display.