see also:
At the end of the day, image quality is not as important as getting the shot, and the Olympus has everything one needs to get to the shoot location without being burdened, and without the need for a tripod allows far more creative shooting.
If you don't get the shot, then talking about pixel peeping image quality comparisons becomes totally irrelevant.
The Olympus gives you confidence you can take it almost anywhere and it is sufficiently responsive and versatile to handle most situations - as long as you don't mind a little more image noise.
feature | E-M1X | Sony a9 | Canon 1DX Mark II | Nikon D5 pro dSLR |
---|---|---|---|---|
lens | 300mm f/4 OIS | Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 + 1.4TC | Canon EF 600mm f/4 | Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4 lenses |
total kit cost (see below) $US | $5499 | $18,700 | $21,000 | $21,000 |
total kit weight (see below) | 2.3kg | 8.5kg | 9.0kg | 9.7kg |
sensor | 20.4mp MFT | 24mp FF | 20.2mp FF | 20.8mp FF |
camera weight | 997g | 673g+add on grip and battery | 1530g | 1405g |
vertical grip | Yes | Add on | Yes | Yes |
lens weight | 1270g | 2895g+TC | 3050g | 3810g |
lens length | 227mm | 359mm+TC | 448mm | 432mm |
lens filter | 77mm | 40.5mm drop in | 52mm drop-in | 40.5mm drop in |
weathersealing | BEST in class IPX-1, temp to -10degC | Good, temp down to 0degC only | Good | Good |
mobility, fun, freedom, low fatigue | EXCELLENT | POOR | POOR | POOR |
airplane cabin luggage | YES | No | No | No |
camera body cost $US | $2999 | $4498+$160 grip/battery | $5999 | $6499 |
GPS adapter cost | built-in | via Bluetooth to smartphone | built-in | discontinued |
Wireless adapter cost | built-in | built-in | $599 | $700 |
lens cost $US | $2499 | $11,998 but not available still, + $548 for 1.4TC | $12,999 | $12,299 |
tripod and tripod head cost (Gitzo with Wimberley gimbal) | not needed | $1500 | $1500 | $1500 |
tripod and tripod head weight | not needed | 4.5kg | 4.5kg | 4.5kg |
full frame equivalent DOF wide open | f/8 | f/4 (f/5.6 for sharpness) | f/4 | f/4 |
high ISO noise at wide open aperture | 2EV worse | standard to 1EV worse | standard | standard |
high ISO noise if need f/8 DOF | standard | standard to 1EV worse | standard | standard |
Raw files in burst mode | 12bit x 103 shots | 12 bit | 14bit | 14bit x 200 shots or 12bit+jpg x 164 shots |
closest focus | 1.4m | 2.7m | 4.2m | 4.4m |
ability to ignore background in AF locking | YES, via user defined in-camera focus limiter or 1.4-4m lens limiter | only 2.7-7m limiter | only 4.2-16m limiter | No |
ability to ignore foreground in AF locking | YES, via user defined in-camera focus limiter or 4m to infinity lens limiter | only via 7m-infinity limiter | only via 16m-infinity | only via 10m-infinity |
ability to create a preset manual focus lock to return to quickly | Yes | No | Yes | No |
ability to AF track a specific subject type | motorsports, trains, planes, more coming | No | No, only iTR AF tracking | No, only 3D tracking but it is the best in a dSLR |
ability to track eyes | Yes | RealTime AF best in class | Face if in central area | Yes if in central AF region and using AutoAreaAF mode |
closest Eye AF locking | Yes | No | No | No |
AF coverage | 80% of frame | 96%? | 20-25% of frame | 20-25% of frame |
PDAF points | 121 all crosspt | 693 | 61 but only 41 crosspt incl. 5 dual-cross | 153 but only 45-99 crosspt depending upon lens |
PDAF points for f/8 lenses | 121 | 693 | 9-13 pts | ? |
PDAF points for f/11 lenses | 121 | 693 | No AF, f/8 is limit | No AF? |
PDAF points for lenses brighter than f/2.8 | 121 | 693 | 41 | ?45-99 |
AF microadjustment needed to ensure accuracy of focus | No | No | Yes | Yes, automated |
AF groups | user customizable | 4/7/8 | 25/72 | |
AF sensitivity low light | -6EV | -3EV | -3EV (center pt) | -4EV (center pt) |
ability to move AF point selection diagonally | Yes | No | No | No |
Viewfinder | 2.36mdot LED 5msec 60/120Hz | 3.7mdot OLED blackout free 60/120Hz | optical | optical |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.83x | 0.78x | 0.76x | 0.72x |
Viewfinder MF aides | IS-stabilised zoom; zebra; | IS-stabilised zoom; zebra; | AF-confirm | AF-confirm |
Viewfinder live histogram for exposures | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Viewfinder chimping | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Viewfinder silent shooting mode | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Top LCD Info screen | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rear LCD type | fully articulating, swivel, selfie | tilt only | fixed, limited touch functionality | fixed |
Rear LCD resolution | 1.03mdot | 1.44mdot | 1.62mdot | 2.36mdot |
Ability to reverse LCD screen for protection | Yes | No | No | No |
sensor based IS | 7EV 5 axis | 5EV 5 axis | None | None |
optical+sensor image stabiliser effectiveness | 7.5EV | 5EV | 3-4EV | 3-4EV |
Power on to 1st shot | 0.8sec | 1.2sec | 0.8sec | 0.4sec |
Play to Record 1st shot | 0.6sec | 1.0sec | 0.1sec | 0.2sec |
Shutter press to center S-AF to shot | 90msec | 220msec | 85msec | 132msec |
Shutter press to shot in MF | 60msec | 100msec | 72msec | 41msec |
Shutter press to shot with half-press AFLock | 38msec | 20msec | 53msec | 39msec |
mechanical burst with C-AF | 10fps ? RAW then 8fps unlimited | 5fps 128 RAW / 241 comp. RAW | 14fps 78RAW on CF and >500 on CFast | 12fps 200RAW |
mechanical burst with S-AF lock | 15fps 97 RAW then 8fps unlimited | 5fps | 16fps with mirror locked up | 14fps with mirror locked up |
electronic burst with C-AF | 18fps | 20fps 241RAW | No | No |
electronic burst with S-AF lock | 60fps | Live View: 16fps | Live View mode: 30fps 5mp jpgs only and can't see until ends | |
buffer clearance time after RAW burst | 7 secs (6secs for large Super Fine jpegs) 1) | 38 secs (254secs for large extra fine jpegs!) 2) | 2secs if CFast 15secs if 800xCF | ?2 secs on XQD cards |
number of shots captured BEFORE shutter release | up to 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
memory card slots | dual UHS-II SD | dual SD but only one UHS-II | CF+CFast | dual CF or dual XQD |
battery duration (CIPA) | 870 shots | 480 shots (double if use grip and extra battery) | 1210 shots | 3780 |
in camera charging and power via external USB power pack (essential in freezing conditions) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
USB port | USB-C up to 100W charging | USB | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 |
4K video | 30p | 30p full pixel | 1.34x crop DCI 60p 4:2:2 8bit MJPEG, no 4K out | 30p |
1080HD video | 120p | 120p | 120p 4:2:0 8bit | 60p |
video aides | OMDLog, 1/24th and 1/48th sec shutter speeds, the best movie IS in class which can be adjusted to style, excellent movie tracking AF, easy AF selection | Real time AF | Dual Pixel AF | Poor AF |
tripod HiRes mode | 80mp RAW | No | No | No |
handheld HiRes mode | 50mp RAW | No | No | No |
ND simulation mode | Yes | No | No | No |
Automatic focus stacking mode | Yes | No | No | No |
Flicker detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
Longest shutter | 60sec | 30sec | 30sec | 30sec |
Night modes other than Bulb | Timed BULB, Live Composite | Night Red view | No | No |
Sensor recording | GPS,temp,compass,altitude, barometer | GPS via Bluetooth to smartphone | GPS, e-compass | opt. discontinued GPS GP-1A adapter |
Wireless tethering | Yes | opt. WFT-E8A adapter | opt. WT-5A or WT-6A adapter | |
Other super telephoto lens options | ||||
800mm | Oly 300mm f/4 with 1.4TC; Pan 200mm f/2.8 +2xTC | 400mm f/2.8 +2xTC | Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 $11,999; 400mm f/2.8 +2xTC; 600mm f/4+1.4xTC; | 400mm f/2.8 +2xTC; 600mm f/4+1.4xTC; |
300-800mm with built-in TC | Oly 150-400mm f/4.5 (2020) | none | none | none |
200-800mm | Panasonic 100-400mm f/4-6.3 1kg $1400 | none | none | none |
other 600mm options | Oly ZD 300mm f/2.8; budget 75-300mm lenses | none | Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 + 2xTC, 300mm f/4 +2xTC | Nikon 300mm f/2.8 + 2xTC, 300mm f/4 +2xTC |
500mm prime | none | none | Canon EF 500mm f/4 3.9kg | Nikon 500mm f/4 $10,299 3kg |
400mm prime | Panasonic Leica 200mm f/2.8 $2999 1.2kg | Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 as above | Canon EF 400mm f/2.8, 400mm f/4 DO, 400mm f/5.6 | Nikon 400mm f/2.8 $11,999 3.8kg |
200-500mm without external TC | Oly ZD 95-250mm f/2.8 $5999, 3.3kg | none | Canon EF 200-400mm f/4 internalTC $11,999 | Nikon 180-400mm f/4 internal TC $12,399 3.5kg; 200-500mm f/5.6 2.3kg |
100-400mm | Panasonic Leica 50-200mm f/2.8-4, Oly 40-150mm f/2.8 +1.4xTC $1,100 | Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 $2498 | Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 | Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 |
300mm prime with IS | Oly ZD 150mm f/2 | Sony Alpha 300mm f/2.8 $7498 2.3kg | Canon EF 300mm f/2.8, 300mm f/4 | Nikon 300mm f/2.8 $5,500 2.9kg, 300mm f/4 PE $1999 |
80-300mm | Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 $1100 | none | Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 | Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 |