Olympus E-M5 vs E-M5 Mark III - High ISO Performance 

Honestly, between thousands of tests and comparisons this is a video making fun and being very interesting for me as a still M5 user. Thanks Robin👍

Loved this. The E-M5 was my first interchangeable lens camera and I will never sell or trade it. It’s intrinsically tied to my love for photography and Olympus. I own the M1 III and the M5 III now and it’s really amazing how far m43 sensors have come in 7 years

Great video! I purchased the Em5 MkIII back in February to upgrade my Em10 MkI and the difference in picture quality is night and day (at least to my eyes). Noise wasn't much of an issue with my old Em10 so it's nice to see that there's that much of an improvement in noise control in higher ISOs. I love my Em5III so much, that I'm now contemplating going "all in" with micro four thirds and selling my full frame gear.👍

Dynamic Range comparison would be very helpful indeed! :)

Nice video Robin! Right to the point, as usual. From my experience, EM5 mk III is unbelievable camera, really, all the goodies of EM1 inside such ultra compact and super sophisticated body. Yes, I do love my EM1 but I consider EM5 mk III best all around camera. Put 12-45/4 Pro on it or any Olympus prim and it is ultimate combo. I never looked back on my FF after switching to Olympus. High iso? Take 5 axe stabilization in account and my tripod is sitting at home not hanging from my backpack :)

What’s interesting is the color difference. I prefer the older EM5 for color

Great video. I have an original EM5 and have not seen other comparisons of it to a Mark lll. This is very helpful for my assessment of whether it is time to jump to a Mark lll. Any additional comparisons between the 2 cameras would be great appreciated.

Yes, please make that comparison video, as well.

Thanks for doing this comparison Robin. It’s very interesting to see how far the new EM5 has come with regards to high ISO performance. I recently purchased the EM5 Mk III after having used a PEN EP5 since 2013 (similar era and tech to the original EM5) and while I have always been happy with the results I got with the EP5, I’ve been blown away by how good the new one is in every respect. It has reinvigorated my love of photography. In combination with the fast primes (I’ve got the 17, 25 and 45mm f1.8s), it makes for excellent low-light performance in a compact, lightweight and highly functional package!

Great comparison! My tolerance for high iso is high. I would have been happy with the EM5 at 25600.

Hi Robin Wong , plz include some comparison between these two cameras on video ISO perf also ..

Hi could you compare iso e-m5 iii vs em 1 iii 😀🙏🏻

So far I'm still happy with my EM5 original camera with Mzuiko ED 75-300mm ii as my bird photography gadget. By the way, thanks for sharing and I really enjoy watching the entire video. Have a nice day and stay safe.

Yes do a comparison for dynamic range. Thank you!

Yes please do another comparison video. RU-vid in general needs more content covering the em5 iii. This camera needs more hype because it’s really really good!

Robin, that would be fantastic to compare the dynamic range. Also perhaps comparisons with the Mark II if you can as well. Thanks for the live chat with Peter today, it was great!

Comparing the Mark III with the original shows that today's Olympus is as good or better than a APC camera from 2012. I went to Dpreview and was able to confirm the results I see in Robin's video. Plus now we have Topaz Denoise and Topaz Sharpen which keep getting better. It was hard to detect the superiority of some of todays APC cameras.

Hi Robin, I did a similar indoor test comparing the EM5 with EM1 MII a few years back when I bought the EM1 MII. In my test, I was using 2 lenses separately. The first lens was the kit zoom 12-50mm f3.5 - 6.3, the second lens was the Samyang 50mm f1.2 manual focus lens. I used a tripod for all the tests. I switched off the IBIS and set a 2 second delay in the shutter to avoid shutter related issues. I used centre-point and shutter speed to meter (for the kit zoom lens, I was using 12mm f3.5 for all ISO tests starting from 200 to 25,600. For the Samyang 50mm lens, I fired all shots at f1.2 from ISO 200 to 25,600.) My photo subject was a Japanese doll which was about 1.5 meter from the camera. About 2 meter behind the doll I placed a number of household items. I used 2 LED video lights (turned to 50% power) set at both sides to light up the whole frame. What I found from the Samyang Fast prime lens was very similar to yours, the EM1 MII has about 2 stops in better noise performance. In addition, for the photos taken form the EM5, a much noticeable warmer tone, kind of yellowish cast was seen. For the kit zoom, the difference was there, but not as much as I got from using the fast prime. I would say 1 stop and a half maybe, but the yellow cast was again there in the photos taken from EM5.

Thanks for this test, and yes, I’d like you to do a test of dynamic range as well. :-) I tend to keep older cameras if I still find them useful. That was the case for my E-M5 (mk1) when I bought the new E-M5 mk3. I keep it because I think it still performs well on ISO 200, so instead of changing lenses I bring the extra camera for some tele shots or macro. It’s also better to have to bodies with fixed lenses for optimum quality and brighter lenses. Keep up the good work mr. Wong!

Hi Robin, great ISO comparison. I would be interested in a dynamic range comparison as well :). However, if you end up comparing the dynamic range could you add a couple high ISO comparisons with raw files instead of jpeg + low noise filter? Also, if you end up comparing raw file ISO's, could you adjust their respective exposure histograms to a similar level, I noticed the E-M5 exposed a little darker than the E-M5 Mark III. Cheers!

Good comparison Robin! Will upgrade my 2012 EM5 to EM5 iii on 2022! 😁

Thank you Robin. I wonder where the EM5 Mark II sits in this regard. In the middle, you think?

Thanks so much Robin for this test. A "real life test" and not a battle of figures and ultra crop. I was surprised by the results, i see a difference but only at higher iso and when zooming. The real size pictures have differences but not such as i thought. I have an om d e m1 and i would be very happy if you could do the same comparison. I will surely not change it now because it s way too expensive and i am still very happy with the old original one. But would be curious to see the comparison. Thanks again and continue the nice videos (and pictures !)

Thank You Robin. As always excellent honest representation of Olympus. I'm in the process of moving from Canon FF to Olympus and absolutely love the Oly system.

Yes, please do a further comparison between the e-m5 and the e-me iii.

Great Video Robin. How would you rate the sensor performance of the EM10 mk4 vs the Em1 Mk2. Is the sensor the same? Is the higher ISOs noise perfomance the same?

Thanks, Robin, for another great video. I would be interested in the dynamic range comparison between the original em5 and the mark iii. Watching your videos and learning from you make this challenging situation that we're all going through more enjoyable. Thanks for your contribution!

Thanks for this video/comparison. It's always a pleasure to watch your videos...

I loved this video, you always have the best topics. I figured the EM5III (which I currently own and love it) would win but it is amazing to see how much better technology has gotten over the years with noise reduction. And yes, please make the dynamic range comparison video.

Back than Kai W. preferred the OM without D after the DigitalRevTV review ;)

Good comparison sr Robin Wong. real the mark III is best in low light for the ISOS, bat the clasic one is very good camera. I have the one and lovered the result. very sharpness. Thank you for the comparison

Я черпаю настроение, когда смотрю ролики этого жизнерадостного человека! Спасибо ему!

Hi Robin I have an OM-d 5 Mk 3 which I pair with the Olympus 10-200 a great go any where take any thing combination, at a very light weight. I found if I use at f7.2-f8 it covers most of what I want to do. Looking back to images taken with the OM-d 10 Mk 1 and comparing, the OM-d 5 Mk 3 is a great improvement. I tend to use Neat Image as a noise reduction software and it really allows me to use high ISO up to 6800 and still get very good results. Keep up the good posts as its nice to have a review that does not start with "For good results you need Full Frame"

Am I correct in assuming that the E-M5 renders images very similar to the E-M10 mark II ? The E-M5 mark III guts render well and would make a great PEN F mark II upgrade, if Olympus decides to keep a rangefinder style in the line-up. I like the color and metering on that E-M5 and wonder if adding +1/3 to E-M5 mark III helps. Maybe it is just me, but the E-M5 has a more film camera look to it -- maybe a little grain or the richness of the colors. In the Olympus line the 45mm f1.8 sure renders a fine image overall. I like that one. Will also be considering the Panasonic 30mm macro, which has had some great reviews and test scores. The f2.8 to 5.6 range is great for the street --- hopefully I can return to full streets again :( I miss the street photograhy, as well as, landscapes and architecture shooting. Take care everyone! -Loren lorenschwiderski.smugmug.com/

Would love the dynamic range video as well. I'm still using the first EM5 and looking to the EM1 III for my long awaited upgrade.

Hi Robin, What camera and lens combo did you use to make this video? The video quality and bokeh are stunning. Also, did you use any post-processing for noise reduction? Great video, as always. Many thanks.

Results very much as I expected. Original EM5 doesn’t do a bad job for an 8 year old design. Thanks for the comparison.

Great video mate! I'd love to see the video of dynamic range as I've got the EM5 classic and am thinking about getting the Mark III at some point. Cheers

I have the original e-m5. I was thinking if I should buy the e-m5 mark III. This is the perfect video that I have been waiting for!!

I'm sorry Robin, but this is not a good test. The subject doesn't display any fine detail. You should have used a fluffy teddy bear for example instead.

I would like to see the histograms and exposure info. The mark III is a brighter shot by aprox one stop which would show less noise. Olympus may be doing something within the cameras to show more of an improvement in noise reduction than truly exists. At equal exposures, It appears that there is one stop of noise improvement with the markIII. Not a problem as it has a higher pixel density and slightly newer sensor.

Very interesting results Robin, I didn't expect that much difference so soon, say before 3200. Would have liked to see the 5000 checked (max native ISO of the em5:-) Yes please do the dynamic range video too! Thank you!

Hi Robin! Thanks for this video!! High Dynamic Range comparison is a nice idea between em5 and em5 iii 😀

Nice one, love this comparison video.

Wow thanks for that Robin ! I have the omd 10 v1 and those images on the 5 mark iii make me want to upgrade just for high iso performance.

I prefer a picture with noise than no picture at all.

I'm looking for a 'downgrade' from FF to m4/3 because of the size of the lenses, but was always hesitant because of high ISO performance (6400+). Thank you for the comparison, perhaps I can use this for shooting ice hockey after all.

Wow...you bring out my camera...Pai Ser. Ya loh. Need to upgrade to EM1 III after MCO...Wait ah...until i come back from Taiwan.

Thanks Robin. Another great video. Just about to part ex my EM5 for an EM10 Mk 2 as a low cost upgrade. Think I am doing the right thing.

Good advice on buying lenses instead of up grading camera body. Faster primes help lower ISO.

listen to you talking makes me happy no matter what you say

The difference between the mk1 and mk3 EM5s reminds me of the gap between my old EM10mk3 and my current EM5mk3 (although the differences here seem slightly more pronounced). It's nice to see how far Olympus cameras have actually come, despite how similar their basic specs seem to be between generations.

High iso mostly for wedding photography, depend what we need, if for portrait product m5classic more than enough jas upgrade best lens👍🏿

Thank you for sharing these results. I would like to see a dynamic range comparison. I have the em-1 mark 1, and am thinking about getting one of the new Olympus cameras. Either the e-m5 mkiii or em-1 mkii. Thanks again for the video. Stay safe and healthy.

Hi Robin, paused at 2:50..., my prediction (I have the em5- now dead after around 90k shutter count-, em5-ii & Em1-ii). Never compared them side by side. I think to 5000 not much difference,... Now I'll continue with the video :-)

Thanks again Robin. Great comparison. Does the EM-5 III have the same sensor as the EM-1 II, or did Olympus design a new sensor?

Thanks Robin for your video. Just wonder how much better is EM5 markIII when compared to EM10 mark II or III when shooting in low light high ISO condition. Take care Robin. Stay healthy.

Thank you, Robin, for this assessment but I wonder, does it has the same ISO performance the OMD1-Mark II like OM5-mark III?

Yes please do dynamic Range comparison between MK1 & MK3, as it stands now for me the difference in ISO performance does not justify 80% price increase .. I just picked up a nice MK1 for £144 I believe the MK3 is over £1000 that is a huge price difference therefore the MK1 offers better value for money

Love your short and helpful videos, Robin! This video interested me especially, as I went from the original E-M5 to the Mk III. About the only thing I miss from the original is its metal body. 8-( (I'm also kind of annoyed that all my original E-M5 accessories, like the battery grip, macro light, etc., no longer work on the Mk III). And yes--I would love to see a dynamic range video comparing the two cameras!

I had the gf3 while still using a nikon body. The iso 6400 on gf3 was how to say, horrendous, but I really love the 14mm and olympus 45mm. So I upgraded to the ep5, couldn’t be happier, with 5 axis I shot mostly in iso800. Now with gf7 and g85, I think m43 have improved to a point that it matched my old nikon bodies in a much smaller package, not surprising since technology goes forward, of course a modern nikon would be even better for iso, and I’m still a big fan of 5 axis.

Thanks Robin. Great review. I think I will retain my EM5

Interesting that even the 16mp sensors have improved as in poor light I tend to pick up my E-PL10 against the EM10 II in difficult light. It is hard to quantify and the E-PL10 has dropped off the radar on the comparometers. The reviewers all thought this was the same camera as the 9 but what do they know? Electronic shutter in all modes and not locked to the tobacco stained look of warm WB was a big change and made me switch. tt was the one camera where an upgrade was really worthwhile yet nobody outside of the dedicated Olympus owners even noticed. Hey-ho.

Hi, Robin thanks for your very good recent comparison of the EM-5 models. Will you do the comparison of the EM-1 with the EM-1 Mark III models too? I'd like to see that comparison from you.

I wonder if the difference is also this big when the noise filter was off. Newer camera's have better noise reduction. Also why no manual mode with exact the same shutter/diafragma?

i just got my em5 mki last year for RM570 with lumix 14mm f2.5 and what i can say it that it's been performing better than most other apsc cameras i own and im loving everything about it. I've been shooting a few weddings with it, photos are better than canon midrange apsc

please what about video shooting in low light or real time sky night video ? advice please

I have both cameras too . . . unfortunately, cannot use the Olympus EM5I's optical right angle viewer on the MarkIII . . . nice accessory.

Thanks for the comparison. I have an e-m1 mk1 - would you say that the difference between e-m1 mk1 and mk3 is the same / as great as the difference between the mk1 and mk3 versions of the e-m5? I need some good arguments to convince my wife that I "need" to upgrade.

How equal are the ISO settings between the two models? Was exposure the same always at every ISO? Because sometimes at say ISO 1600 @ f/5.6 one camera will meter for say 1/60s and the other at 1/40s. But that would be a 1/2 stop difference in exposure.

Now what about vs the EM1-ii

I currently still have the E-M5 mki and only shoot still, how much IQ improvement between the original E-M5 and the mkiii in term of dynamic range and sharpness? Thank you!

I was impressed by the E-M5 and I have no problem using ISO 12800 with it. I am pleased to learn the mk3 has improved the High ISO performance. Even at ISO 25600 looks usable to me. My E-M5 ISO 12800 prints look really good with hardly any visible grain. People look for moments, not "clean" images. They are more likely to notice a blurred image than a "noisy" image. Thanks for the video, Robin.

Better sensor, software, or IBIS? Did you leave IBIS on for the test?

Thank you Robin for this useful video. I have recently upgraded to EM5iii from EM10ii and I need your advise. Why I cannot change the auto-ISO upper limit over 6400? It is possible with EM10ii and I need it when shooting moving subjects indoors. Is there any tweak for this or ask for firmware update?

I'm always amused by comments as how this or that camera performs at ISO 12,800 since I remember well the old days when I would load ASA 200 film into my Olympus OM-2S... and that was it!

Thank you very informative. And impressive.

Excellent comparison. With my em5ii and em1 ii I never go higher than iso 3200.. that should cover about 99,99 % of my needs.

Proud owner of the wonderful EM5 II. But its high time m43 gets a BSI sensor..!

Hi, thanks for review. İ have Olympus omd m5 mark 1, i have some problems while taking videos making pan, there is flickering sometimes. Can i update my Olympus? Can it solve this? Or upgrade with mark3? Thanks

I prefer the EM5 images at the lower iso settings.. They seem crisper with better contrast. This is probably due to the 16 megapixel sensor. If you have to get that low light image I guess you need the Mark iii.

WOW! Looks like the original E-M5 has about 1 stop less noise than my Nikon D800.

Perfect timing, I have some savings and was considering an upgrade from my em5 to an em1 mkii or em5 mkiii

I just compared my E-M1 M1 against my Panasonic G9. I can not see any difference in Iso Performance from Iso 200 up to Iso 25600. I tested both JPEG and RAW with the exact same Lens, same Aperture and same exposure. To my mind revolution in sensor technology is lacking since many many years.

I still love my E-M5 and still giving me fantastic photographs, however, moving up into the E-M5 lll is an option.

Very good to see. Maybe that f/6.7 on the 75-300mm isn't that bad when you got that good of performance at 6400.

I would have liked to have seen the Mark III at 25,600 on the right, and the Mark I at whatever ISO is closest in image quality (e.g. 3,200 or 6,400). That would have really cemented the difference for us.

Hello there, Dynamic range comparisons will be highly appreciated. May I suggest one thing though? I have been staging and slowly progressing with Olympus mirrorless cameras from the Pen lite (EPL) to a OMD, and now within the OMD I'm still with the 10 and will have to move to the 5 (as I need the weather sealing). With the progression within the OMD range being moving from 10 to 5 and from 5 to 1, would it be possible to do the comparisons between the different generation EM5s and between the EM5 iii and a EM10? The fact that Olympus made the EM5 batteries the same as my EM10s makes this transition more natural, and this would a nice comparison to see, and or to get your opinion. Stay safe.

What's the difference between 1st n 3rd E-M5 regarding high ISO video? thx^0^

I recently bought my brand new OM-D EM-5 Mark III with the kit lens Zuiko 14-150 f4 to 5.6 II (Silver Body) and it's my first camera. I am a total beginner and keenly follow all your videos. I am enjoying my photography and thank you each and each information you share in your videos.... It is a boon to a beginner like me. I would also like to aknow bout the kit lens 14-150 review if you can. Thanks.

Thanks Robin that was cool. I use an original em5 and would like to see any other comparisons that yo make. Regards Del

Good one Robin,suprised how far you can take the ISO.Range between M-5mkiii and M-1mkii-iii would be interesting as well.

is mk2 the same as mk1? interesting to see mk2 vs mk3 btw - looks like mk3 has brighter image so noise should be lower. Is that correct? and thanks for this test!

What do you think about em5 ii in 2020? Em5 seems already good.

I am upgrading from an omd em1 to omd em1 m3, I expect the differences in improved ISO are similar to those you found for this video.

Mark 3 looks denoised and less sharp to me or is Mark 1 sharpened by default?

In the film camera days, ISO 1600 film was garbage. I'm just astounded by what digital camera sensors can output. I'm sorry you're locked in, Robin. I always enjoy your photography, especially the arthropod macro photography. I'm locked in too, but living in the taiga of northern Minnesota, I'm doing as much photography as I always do, because there is almost no one around me. I can go out and wander in the woods any time I want to.

Can you do a video of the aged Ep5 against the current olympus cameras? It seemed that it aged very very well to me, but i would like your opinion on it. Thanks

great video, very helpful!

Can you do a video showing how to utilize the merits of focus bracketing? Or point me yo one you did far another older Olympus camera that offers the sam feature. I do not believethis was on the omd em1.