Olympus has announced the follow up to their popular E-M5 – the OM-D E-M5 Mark II. Given the popularity of the E-M5 for underater photo and video, the Mark II will surely be a serious player in the mirrorless camera scene, especially given it’s robust new video capabilities, including faster Full HD frame rates and 5-axis video stabilization. Additional controls allow for more button function customization to match your underwater shooting style.
What’s New for the E-M5 Mark II?
There are two major upgrades to the E-M5 that will be appreciated by scuba divers. First, the camera will have faster video frame rates, allowing divers to shoot 60fps at 1080p. This fast frame rate at Full HD resolution is great for underwater video shooters since it can be edited at 60fps, or dropped into (let’s say) a 30fps timeline for stunning and smooth slow motion.
The second major upgrade is that the camera body features some extra buttons (similar to the E-M1), allowing more customization of button functions. This eliminates the need to enter the camera menus to change settings, creating faster, more ergonomic changes while shooting.
Pros for Underwater Photography
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Compact size and 16MP sensor – great for portable housing and dive travel
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Wide selection of lenses available
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1080x60p video shooting – enjoy Full HD and fast framerates (ideal for slow motion)
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Fast autofocus system
Additional E-M5 Mk II Highlights
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Improved 5-axis Image Stabilitzation.
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16 MP Live MOS Sensor, capable of shooting a stunning 40 MP image with rich color mind-blowing detail and razor sharpness.
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More robust video features in addition to image stabilization, including 77 Mbps recording and variable framerates.
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Built-in toughness
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2.36 million dot Electronic Viewfinder
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Specs
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16.1 million pixel sensor LiveMOS
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Hi-Res composite shooting (63MP for RAW and 40MP for JPEG)
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Video framerates of 30fps at 1080p and 60fps at 720p
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Video max bitrate is 77Mbps in ALL-I (recommended) or 52Mbps in IPB
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Burst of 11 frames per second
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Silent shutter option
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ISO range 100 – ISO 25,600
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SD / SDHC SDXC (UHS-I compatible, Eye-Fi compatible)
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Weight (with battery and memory card): 417kg
Olympus OM-D Settings & Shooting Guide
Be sure to read our article ‘Best Settings for the Olympus OM-D and PEN Underwater‘
Olympus Mirrorless Camera Comparison
| E-M10 | E-M5 | E-M5 MkII | E-M1 | |
| Megapixels | 16 | 16.1 | 16.1 (60 in RAW on tripod) | 16 |
| Sensor | Four Thirds | Four Thirds | Four Thirds | Four Thirds |
| ISO Range | 200-25600 | 200-25600 | 100-25600 | 100-25600 |
| Autofocus | Contrast detect | Contrast detect | Contrast detect | Contrast detect |
| Max Flash Sync | 1/200s | 1/250s | tbd | 1/320s |
| Burst | 8 FPS | 9 FPS | 11 FPS | 10 FPS |
| Video | 1080/30, 720/30 | 1080/30, 720/60 | 1080/60, 720/60 | 1080/30, 720/30 |
| Weight | 396g | 425g | 469g | 497g |
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Underwater Housings
Purchase the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Housing on Bluewater Photo
More housings coming soon! Be sure to contact the experts at Bluewater Photo to find the best housing and port system for you.
Further Reading
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Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mirrorless Camera Review
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Best Underwater Settings for Olympus OM-D E-M5
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Olympus OM-D E-M1 In-Depth Review
