Olympus OM-D E-M1 review

Olympus's best MFT camera to date and one of the best CSCs on the market, now with firmware update 2.0

Olympus OM-D E-M1
Editor's Choice
The new OM-D - the best digital camera Olympus has ever produced

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

JPEG signal to noise ratio

OMD-EM1

Raw signal to noise ratio

OMD-EM1

Olympus stated that the E-M1 is calibrated to allow a little more noise to be visible to retain detail and improve image sharpness, and this is likely to be the explanation for the lower signal to noise ratio. However, images don't appear very noisy and there's little in the way of coloured speckling visible.

JPEG dynamic range

OMD-EM1

The Olympus E-M1 is capable of recording a wide range of tones in a single image at the lower sensitivity settings, and at the higher values it beats the Sony NEX-7 and Fuji X-Pro1 for dynamic range.

Raw dynamic range

OMD-EM1

While it doesn't quite match the E-M5, a dynamic range in excess of 12EV at ISO 400 is impressive.

Latest in Compact Cameras
Fujfilm GFX 50R
First Fujifilm GFX100RF images leaked in build-up to expected reveal – here’s what they tell us about the unique premium compact camera
Canon PowerShot V1 in user's hands, oudoors with a snowy Japan backdrop
I review cameras for a living, and the new Canon PowerShot V1 could be this year’s vlogging star – here’s why
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III
Canon’s rumored PowerShot V1 point-and-shoot could hit the sensor sweet spot – and be first of two new PowerShots for 2025
Flashback ONE35 redisposable digital camera on a wooden surface
I tested the Flashback ONE35 "re-disposable" camera, and it's a novel idea let down by a shoddy app
Canon compact cameras tipped for a big return with rumored Powershot V1 – and I think that's Canon's most exciting play for 2025
Panasonic Lumix TZ99 point and shoot camera on a bright green / cyan background
The point-and-shoot is back: Panasonic launches new Lumix out of the blue, with iPhone-trouncing 30x optical zoom
Latest in Reviews
Apple iPad Air 11-inch M3 (2025) Review
I tested the 11-inch iPad Air with M3 for five days, and it stretches the value even further with more power for the same price
Cricut Maker 4 cutting machine making projects with basswood and cardstock
After a month with Cricut Maker 4 I’ve pushed my crafting past its limit, and past the limit of the machine
HP Series 7 Pro 727pm during our review
I tested the HP Series 7 Pro 727pm business monitor and it may not be cheap, but it's still an extraordinary 4K productivity panel
openSUSE Tumbleweed main image
openSUSE Tumbleweed review
Nitrux OS main image
Nitrux OS review
Philips sonicare 7100
The Philips Sonicare 7100 is a powerful, stylish, but overpriced electric toothbrush