Olympus OM-D E-M5

53

vs
Nikon D300

44

Nikon D300
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus OM-D E-M5

Size
 Really small
Standard size 122x89x43 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D300
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 6.5x more lenses available
Battery life Much longer battery life 1000 shots vs 500 shots
Help
 2x more shots per battery charge
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 610k dots
Help
 More than 50% higher resolution screen
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.62x vs 0.44x
Help
 More than 90% larger viewfinder
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1100 ms
Help
 3.7x less delay when turning on
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 Around 70% larger sensor
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 35
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 227 ms vs 277 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D300 Learn more about
the Nikon D300

Advantages of the Olympus E-M5
Screen type Has an OLED screen OLED vs LCD
Help
 OLED screens are often brighter and more vibrant than typical LCD screens
Size Significantly smaller 122x89x43 mm vs 147x114x74 mm
Help
 2.7x smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The E-M5's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 60fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Weight Much lighter 425 g vs 925 g
Help
 2.2x lighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.9 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 71.0 vs 67.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Thickness Thinner 1.7" vs 2.9"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 50% faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 22.8 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 826 ISO vs 679 ISO
Help
 The E-M5 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.3 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Lowest price Cheaper $924.00 vs $1,799.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $876 cheaper (around 50% less)
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Learn more about
the Olympus E-M5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D300 Nikon D300
44 vs 53
Explain scores
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Olympus OM-D E-M5. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Both are weather sealed, which is fairly uncommon among similar cameras Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Battery life Great battery life Help
D300:1000 shots
E-M5:500 shots
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D300:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
E-M5:Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D300:12 EV
E-M5:12.3 EV
Sensor cleaning Both have self cleaning sensors, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Avoids dust in your photos
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D300:Pentaprism
E-M5:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
D300:1/8000s
E-M5:1/4000s
Weight Heavy Help
D300:925 g
E-M5:425 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D300
Compare the D7000 vs the OM-D E-M5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D300
Compare the D5100 vs the OM-D E-M5
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7100 vs the D300
Compare the D7100 vs the OM-D E-M5
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5200 vs the D300
Compare the D5200 vs the OM-D E-M5
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D300
Compare the EOS 60D vs the OM-D E-M5
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,299 - $1,725 body only

$1,499 with 28-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300
Compare the EOS 7D vs the OM-D E-M5
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$595 - $599 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D300
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the OM-D E-M5

Nikon D300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,300 - $1,697 body only

$2,227 with 85mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Compare the D300S vs the D300
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$600 - $899 body only

$739 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Focus points Significantly fewer focus points
Compare the D90 vs the D300
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,319 body only
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Lowest price Cheaper
Screen size Much smaller screen
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the D200 vs the D300
Nikon D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,797 with 28-300mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the D600 vs the D300
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the D3100 vs the D300

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the NEX-7 vs the OM-D E-M5
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$768 with 14-42mm lens
Size Smaller
Startup delay Less startup delay
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the OM-D E-M5
Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$799 - $1,000 body only

$1,199 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the X-E1 vs the OM-D E-M5
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$648 body only

$798 with 16-50mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the OM-D E-M5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,298 body only

$2,599 with 12-35mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Significantly larger
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Compare the Lumix DMC-GH3 vs the OM-D E-M5

appearance

Nikon D300 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Nikon D300 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Nikon D300 Olympus OM-D E-M5

discussion

Showing 0 comments