see also:

• Olympus Four Thirds dSLR system
  • firmware
  • macro
• buying digital SLRs
• Olympus OM-D E-M1

• announced in 2010 as an upgrade to the semi-pro/pro Olympus E-3 dSLR, it is the 1st Olympus Four Thirds dSLR system dSLR to include HD video, albeit at only 720p 30fps, but it does have an external mic.
• whilst in many respects it does not compare as well on specs with the likes of a Canon 7D (in terms of HD video capability and burst rate), it has built-in IS and a flip out LCD, and most importantly, the enormous benefit of access to a superb range of lenses specifically designed for the cropped sensor which are just not available in Nikon or Canon systems with comparable pricing, optical quality and hand holdability such as:
  • Olympus ZD 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 lens
  • Olympus ZD 150mm f/2.0 super telephoto lens
  • Olympus ZD 90-250mm f/2.8 super telephoto lens
  • Olympus ZD 300mm f/2.8 super telephoto lens
• furthermore, it offers a lovely synergism with the extremely popular Micro Four Thirds system system, in particular, the ability to share remote TTL flash systems with the very compact Olympus PEN cameras or the very versatile Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera which can also use the Four Thirds lenses via an adapter.
• the E5 provides the strength of its phase difference AF and telephoto reach capability for sports and nature photography whilst the compact size of the Micro Four Thirds system makes a great companion for social and travel photography as well as higher quality HD video work.
• this camera has now been superceded by the mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Olympus OM-D E-M1
• it is not clear if Olympus will make a new optical dSLR in the Four Thirds mount given the E-M1 will satisfy most Four Thirds users and provide a smaller camera with more versatility.

• 12.3mp Four Thirds sensor
• rugged, weatherproofed body
• 11pt phase difference AF as well as Live View mode CD-AF
• TruPic V+ processor for improved image quality
• 3“ 921K dot swivel, rotate vari-angle LCD screen
• “FAST AF” CD-AF technology including Face Detection AF in Live View mode
• 5EV image stabiliser
• 10 Art filters (none on E3)
• Scene modes (none on E3)
• popup flash
• ISO limit increased to 6400 plus customisable autoISO (but can only set upper limit ISO, no shutter speed limits)
• more customisation options than the Olympus E-3 dSLR
• new features including digital level gauge in the viewfinder, multi-exposure, i-Enhance, 7 frame AEB
• xD memory card slot thankfully replaced by SD card slot at last, and includes SDXC support
• still has CF card slot
• new BLM-5 battery
• 720p 30fps HD video, mono mic but with external stereo mic port
• 150,000 shot rated shutter
• can add copyright info to EXIF
• optional IR remote as well as cabled remote
• PC sync terminal
• HDMI out but only for playback
• 813 g (1.8 lb.)
• 142 x 116 x 75 mm (5.6 x 4.6 x 2.9 in)

• dpreview.com

• new 12mp sensor with higher ISO to 6400 and improved image processing engine
• improved shutter
• LCD screen now 3” instead of 2.5“ and 920K instead of 230K
• faster CDAF with Face detection in Live View
• 10 Art Filters (none on E3)
• Scene modes (none on E3)
• SD card slot instead of xD card slot
• 720p HD video with stereo mic input and HDMI playback
• More customization options
• improved menu
• Level Gauge in the viewfinder
• Multi-exposure
• i-Enhance
• 7 frame AEB
• can set legacy lens focal length for IS
• new BLM-5 battery (although compatibility is retained with the older PS-BLM1)

• the 2 cameras have much in common:
  • weatherproofed rugged design
  • similar image quality and high ISO performance although perhaps the 7D just wins out on sensor quality
  • 100% FOV optical pentaprism viewfinder
  • iso 100-6400 (although the 7D has boost to 12,800)
  • 3” 921K dot LCD screen
  • 1/8000th sec fastest shutter
  • 1/250th flash sync
  • popup flash with remote TTL flash and superFP/HSS flash capability
  • 2 or 10/12sec self-timer
  • ±5 EV exposure compensation
  • CF memory card support
  • mid-sized dSLR weighing 800g (7D is a bit heavier at 860g)
• advantages of the Olympus E5:
  • flip out, swivel and rotate vari-angle LCD screen
  • built-in 5EV IS
  • access to the best lenses designed for cropped sensor cameras
  • SD memory card slot as well as CF slot
  • 7 frame AEB instead of only 3 frames
  • 10 Art filters
  • Scene modes
  • 60 sec longest timed shutter instead of 30sec
  • faster CD-AF in Live View
  • better sensor dust removal mechanism
  • nicer out of camera jpeg images
  • synergy with the very compact Micro Four Thirds system
• advantages of the 7D:
  • 18mp instead of 12mp
  • 8fps instead of 5fps burst rate
  • 19pt AF instead of 11pt
  • 1080i 30/25/24fps HD video instead of only 720p
  • optional GPS
  • access to the Canon L pro full frame lenses
  • access to radio TTL remote flash instead of only infrared TTL
  • synergy with the larger Canon full frame system

The Olympus E5 with Olympus ZD 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 II zoom lens and Olympus ZD 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 lens could be supplemented with a Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera and the following lenses:

• Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 ultrawide zoom lens for a compact 14-28mm kit
• Olympus m.ZD 12mm f/2.0 lens for a 24mm f/2.0 compact kit
• Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens for a 40mm f/1.7 super compact pancake kit
• Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH lenses for a high quality 50mm f/1.4 kit
• Olympus m.ZD 45mm f/1.8 portrait lens for a high quality compact, fast AF, movie optimised 90mm portrait kit
• Olympus m.ZD 60mm f/2.8 macro lens for compact 120mm macro kit
• Olympus m.ZD 75mm f/1.8 lens for a high quality compact, fast AF, movie optimised 150mm f/1.8 kit

The Canon 7D with EF-S 10-22mm and EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS could be supplemented with a Canon 5D Mark III dSLR or Canon 1D X sports dSLR and the following lenses:

• Canon 14mm f/2.8L for a nice wide aperture 14mm kit but no IS and not optimised for movie
• Canon 24mm f/1.4L II for a nice wide aperture 24mm kit but no IS and not optimised for movie
• Canon 50mm f/1.2L for a nice wide aperture 50mm kit but no IS and not optimised for movie
• Canon 85mm f/1.2L for a nice wide aperture 85mm kit with the most shallow depth of field (DOF) you can get on 35mm but slow AF, expensive, no IS and not optimised for movie
• Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II but no IS and not optimised for movie
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II
• Canon 135mm f/2.0L for a nice wide aperture 135mm kit but no IS and not optimised for movie
• TSE and macro lenses

The Canon supplimentary kit will be much bigger, heavier and far more expensive and you will need much larger tripods, tripod heads, filters, backpacks, etc and these will create issues for travel, in particular, flights with their 7.5kg limit for cabin baggage.

If you are a Canon full frame user, you may find the Micro Four Thirds system compact kits are a better fit than a cropped sensor dSLR such as a bulkier Canon 7D with its poorly matched, or in the case of EF-S, sub-standard lenses.

The situation for Nikon users is similar to the issues confronting the Canon user above.