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Olympus E-510 vs E-M5 II

The Olympus E-510 and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in March 2007 and February 2015. The E-510 is a DSLR, while the E-M5 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The E-510 has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the E-M5 II provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Olympus E-510
versus
Olympus E-M5 II
Olympus E-510   Olympus E-M5 II
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
10 MP – Four Thirds sensor 15.9 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 200-25,600
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
2.5" LCD – 215k dots 3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
750 shots per battery charge310 shots per battery charge
136 x 92 x 68 mm, 538 g 124 x 85 x 45 mm, 469 g
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Check E-510 offers at
ebay.com
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Check E-M5 II offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-510 and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Olympus E-510 and the Olympus E-M5 II are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The E-M5 II can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the E-510 is only available in black.

Size Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II
Compare E-510 versus E-M5 II top
Comparison E-510 or E-M5 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-M5 II is notably smaller (16 percent) than the Olympus E-510. Moreover, the E-M5 II is markedly lighter (13 percent) than the E-510. It is noteworthy in this context that the E-M5 II is splash and dust-proof, while the E-510 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-510) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-M5 II). Mirrorless cameras, such as the E-M5 II, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the E-510 gets 750 shots out of its Olympus BLM-1 battery, while the E-M5 II can take 310 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLN-1 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 n Mar 2007 US$ 799ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 II 124 mm 85 mm 45 mm 469 g 310 Y Feb 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-30 142 mm 108 mm 75 mm 701 g 750 n Nov 2008 US$ 1 299ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-400 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Sep 2006 US$ 699ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 n Mar 2007 US$ 699ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 n Sep 2005 US$ 599ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 n May 2008 US$ 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-600 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 535 g 500 n Aug 2009 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-620 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 521 g 500 n Feb 2009 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-M1 130 mm 94 mm 63 mm 497 g 350 Y Sep 2013 US$ 1 399ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-M5 122 mm 89 mm 43 mm 425 g 360 Y Feb 2012 US$ 1 299ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-M5 III 125 mm 85 mm 50 mm 414 g 310 Y Oct 2019 US$ 1 199ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-M10 119 mm 82 mm 46 mm 396 g 320 n Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-M10 II 120 mm 83 mm 47 mm 390 g 320 n Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-P1 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 n Jun 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-P3 122 mm 69 mm 34 mm 369 g 330 n Jun 2011 US$ 799ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The E-510 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 27 percent) than the E-M5 II, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Technology-wise, the E-M5 II uses a more advanced image processing engine (TruePic VII) than the E-510 (TruePic III), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-M5 II sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the E-M5 II offers a higher resolution of 15.9 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the E-510. This megapixels advantage translates into a 26 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the E-M5 II has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 4.74μm for the E-510). However, it should be noted that the E-M5 II is much more recent (by 7 years and 11 months) than the E-510, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus E-M5 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the E-M5 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Olympus E-510 are 18.2 x 13.7 inches or 46.3 x 34.7 cm for good quality, 14.6 x 10.9 inches or 37.1 x 27.8 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.1 inches or 30.9 x 23.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the E-510, the E-M5 II has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (40MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Olympus E-510 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-510 versus E-M5 II MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the E-M5 II offers substantially better image quality than the E-510 (overall score 21 points higher). The advantage is based on 1.8 bits higher color depth, 2.5 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.9 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.210.044252
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.012.584273
3.
 
Olympus E-30 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.453055
4.
 
Olympus E-400 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.010.612753
5.
 
Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.110.049451
6.
 
Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.710.34551
7.
 
Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.410.454855
8.
 
Olympus E-600 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.510.354155
9.
 
Olympus E-620 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.353655
10.
 
Olympus E-M1 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p23.012.775773
11.
 
Olympus E-M5 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i22.812.382671
12.
 
Olympus E-M5 III Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.313.1132476
13.
 
Olympus E-M10 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/30p22.812.388472
14.
 
Olympus E-M10 II Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60p23.112.584273
15.
 
Olympus E-P1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.453655
16.
 
Olympus E-P3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.810.153651
17.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The E-M5 II indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-510 does not. The highest resolution format that the E-M5 II can use is 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-M5 II has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the E-510 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the E-M5 II offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the E-510 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the E-M5 II has a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.46x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-M5 II along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Olympus E-510optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 II2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
3.
 
Olympus E-30optical Y2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Olympus E-400optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Olympus E-410optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Olympus E-500optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
7.
 
Olympus E-520optical n2.7 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-600optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Olympus E-620optical n2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Olympus E-M12360 n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
11.
 
Olympus E-M51440 n3.0 / 610 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s n Y
12.
 
Olympus E-M5 III2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
13.
 
Olympus E-M101440 n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Olympus E-M10 II2360 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Olympus E-P1none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s n Y
16.
 
Olympus E-P3optional n3.0 / 614 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The E-510 has one, while the E-M5 II does not. While the built-in flash of the E-510 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The E-M5 II has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the E-510 does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the E-M5 II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Olympus E-M5 II has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The E-510 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the E-M5 II uses SDXC cards. The E-510 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the E-M5 II only has one slot.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Olympus E-510 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Olympus E-510Y- / ----2.0---
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
3.
 
Olympus E-30Y- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-400Y- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Olympus E-410Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Olympus E-500Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Olympus E-520Y- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-600Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-620Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-M1Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
11.
 
Olympus E-M5Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Olympus E-M5 IIIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
13.
 
Olympus E-M10Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
14.
 
Olympus E-M10 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
15.
 
Olympus E-P1Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
16.
 
Olympus E-P3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
17.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---

It is notable that the E-M5 II offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the E-510 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-M5 II (unlike the E-510) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the E-510 and the E-M5 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-510 was replaced by the Olympus E-520, while the E-M5 II was followed by the Olympus E-M5 III. Further information on the features and operation of the E-510 and E-M5 II can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-510 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-M5 II Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Olympus E-510 or the Olympus E-M5 II – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Arguments in favor of the Olympus E-510:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 310) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (27 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2007).


Advantages of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (15.9 vs 10MP), which boosts linear resolution by 26%.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (21 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.8 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (2.5 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.9 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (TruePic VII vs TruePic III).
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 1080/60p video.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.46x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 215k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (124x85mm vs 136x92mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 69g or 13 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More modern: Reflects 7 years and 11 months of technical progress since the E-510 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-M5 II is the clear winner of the contest (27 : 6 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-510 06:27 E-M5 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-510 and the Olympus E-M5 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the E-510 and the E-M5 II in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 US$ 799ebay.com
2.
 
Olympus E-M5 II5/5+ +4.5/581/1005/55/5 Feb 2015 US$ 1 099ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-30......71/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2008 US$ 1 299ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-400..85/100....4/54/5 Sep 2006 US$ 699ebay.com
5.
 
Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 US$ 699ebay.com
6.
 
Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 US$ 599ebay.com
7.
 
Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 US$ 699ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-600..........4.5/5 Aug 2009 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-6203/588/100..72/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2009 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-M15/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2013 US$ 1 399ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-M54/5+ +..80/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2012 US$ 1 299ebay.com
12.
 
Olympus E-M5 III5/5+5/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2019 US$ 1 199ebay.com
13.
 
Olympus E-M104/5....80/1005/55/5 Jan 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-M10 II4.5/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Aug 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
15.
 
Olympus E-P1..+..66/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
16.
 
Olympus E-P3..83/100..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 US$ 799ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M5 II

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M5 II
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date March 2007 February 2015
    Launch Price USD 799 USD 1,099
    Sensor Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M5 II
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 10 Megapixels 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3648 x 2736 pixels 4608 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.74 μm 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 4.44 MP/cm2 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 200 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic III TruePic VII
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 52 73
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.2 23.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.0 12.5
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 442 842
    Screen Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M5 II
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.46x 0.74x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 2.5inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 215k dots 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M5 II
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/16000s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium CF or XD cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M5 II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Body Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M5 II
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Olympus BLM-1 Olympus BLN-1
    Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge310 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68 mm
    (5.4 x 3.6 x 2.7 in)
    124 x 85 x 45 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 in)
    Camera Weight 538 g (19.0 oz) 469 g (16.5 oz)
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