Fujifilm X-T1 vs Olympus E-M5 III

The Fujifilm X-T1 and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2014 and October 2019. Both the X-T1 and the E-M5 III are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (X-T1) and a Four Thirds (E-M5 III) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 16 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 20.2 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm X-T1		Olympus E-M5 III
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Fujifilm X mount lenses		Micro Four Thirds lenses
16 MP, APS-C Sensor		20.2 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
1080/60p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 200-6,400 (100 - 51,200)		ISO 200-25,600
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen)		Swivel touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization only		In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
350 shots per battery charge		310 shots per battery charge
129 x 90 x 47 mm, 440 g		125 x 85 x 50 mm, 414 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm X-T1 and the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III? 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.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm X-T1 and the Olympus E-M5 III is provided 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 measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Both cameras are available in two different colors (black, silver).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-M5 III is notably smaller (8 percent) than the Fujifilm X-T1. Moreover, the E-M5 III is markedly lighter (6 percent) than the X-T1. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

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. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Fujinon X Lens Catalog (X-T1) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-M5 III). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the X-T1 gets 350 shots out of its NP-W126 battery, while the E-M5 III can take 310 images on a single charge of its BLS-50 power pack. The power pack in the E-M5 III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. 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.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-T1	129 mm	90 mm	47 mm	440 g	350	Y	Jan 2014	1,299
2.		Olympus E-M5 III	125 mm	85 mm	50 mm	414 g	310	Y	Oct 2019	1,199
3.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	141 mm	83 mm	46 mm	495 g	350	Y	Jan 2016	1,699
4.		Fujifilm X-T2	133 mm	92 mm	49 mm	507 g	340	Y	Jul 2016	1,599
5.		Fujifilm X-A2	117 mm	67 mm	40 mm	350 g	410	n	Jan 2015	399
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	118 mm	83 mm	41 mm	381 g	350	n	May 2015	799
7.		Fujifilm X100T	127 mm	74 mm	52 mm	440 g	330	n	Sep 2014	1,299
8.		Fujifilm X100S	127 mm	74 mm	54 mm	445 g	330	n	Jan 2013	1,299
9.		Fujifilm X-A1	117 mm	67 mm	39 mm	330 g	350	n	Sep 2013	399
10.		Fujifilm X-E2	129 mm	75 mm	37 mm	350 g	350	n	Oct 2013	999
11.		Fujifilm X-M1	117 mm	67 mm	39 mm	330 g	350	n	Jun 2013	699
12.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	140 mm	82 mm	43 mm	450 g	300	n	Jan 2012	1,699
13.		Olympus PEN-F	125 mm	72 mm	37 mm	427 g	330	n	Jan 2016	1,199
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	124 mm	85 mm	45 mm	469 g	310	Y	Feb 2015	1,099
15.		Olympus E-M1	130 mm	94 mm	63 mm	497 g	350	Y	Sep 2013	1,399
16.		Olympus E-M5	122 mm	89 mm	43 mm	425 g	360	Y	Feb 2012	1,299
17.		Panasonic GX8	133 mm	78 mm	63 mm	487 g	330	Y	Jul 2015	1,199
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The E-M5 III was somewhat cheaper (by 8 percent) than the X-T1 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm X-T1 features an APS-C sensor and the Olympus E-M5 III a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-M5 III is 39 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 2.0. The sensor in the X-T1 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the E-M5 III offers a 4:3 aspect.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the E-M5 III offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 16 MP of the X-T1. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.34μm versus 4.80μm for the X-T1). However, it should be noted that the E-M5 III is much more recent (by 5 years and 8 months) than the X-T1, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus E-M5 III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the E-M5 III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Fujifilm X-T1 are 24.5 x 16.3 inches or 62.2 x 41.5 cm for good quality, 19.6 x 13.1 inches or 49.7 x 33.2 cm for very good quality, and 16.3 x 10.9 inches or 41.5 x 27.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the X-T1, the E-M5 III has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (80MP) 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 Fujifilm X-T1 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 64-25600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm X-T1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
2.		Olympus E-M5 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
4.		Fujifilm X-T2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
5.		Fujifilm X-A2	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
7.		Fujifilm X100T	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
8.		Fujifilm X100S	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
9.		Fujifilm X-A1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
10.		Fujifilm X-E2	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
11.		Fujifilm X-M1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
12.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/24p	..	..	..	..
13.		Olympus PEN-F	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	23.1	12.4	894	74
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	23.0	12.5	842	73
15.		Olympus E-M1	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	23.0	12.7	757	73
16.		Olympus E-M5	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	22.8	12.3	826	71
17.		Panasonic GX8	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.5	12.6	806	75

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the E-M5 III provides a better video resolution than the X-T1. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The X-T1 and the E-M5 III are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2360k dots. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Fujifilm X-T1 and Olympus E-M5 III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm X-T1	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	n	1/4000s	8.0	n	n
2.		Olympus E-M5 III	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
3.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	2360	n	3.0	1620	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
4.		Fujifilm X-T2	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	n	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
5.		Fujifilm X-A2	none	n	3.0	920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.6	Y	n
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	2360	n	3.0	920	tilting	n	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
7.		Fujifilm X100T	2360	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
8.		Fujifilm X100S	2360	n	2.8	460	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
9.		Fujifilm X-A1	none	n	3.0	920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.6	Y	n
10.		Fujifilm X-E2	2360	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	n
11.		Fujifilm X-M1	none	n	3.0	920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.6	Y	n
12.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	1440	n	3.0	1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0	n	n
13.		Olympus PEN-F	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
15.		Olympus E-M1	2360	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
16.		Olympus E-M5	1440	n	3.0	610	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0	n	Y
17.		Panasonic GX8	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The E-M5 III has a touchscreen, while the X-T1 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

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, both cameras under consideration feature an 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 Fujifilm X-T1 and the Olympus E-M5 III both have 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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the X-T1 and the E-M5 III write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s.

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 Fujifilm X-T1 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm X-T1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Olympus E-M5 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
4.		Fujifilm X-T2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
5.		Fujifilm X-A2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Fujifilm X100T	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Fujifilm X100S	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Fujifilm X-A1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Fujifilm X-E2	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Fujifilm X-M1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Olympus PEN-F	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Olympus E-M1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Olympus E-M5	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Panasonic GX8	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Fujifilm X-T1 (unlike the E-M5 III) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The E-M5 III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Olympus. In contrast, the X-T1 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the X-T1 was succeeded by the Fujifilm X-T2. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Fujifilm and Olympus websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Fujifilm X-T1 better than the Olympus E-M5 III or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Fujifilm X-T1:

• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.77x vs 0.68x).
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (350 versus 310) on a single battery charge.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2014).

Reasons to prefer the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 16MP), which boosts linear resolution by 10%.
• High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• 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 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 8 months of technical progress since the X-T1 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-M5 III is the clear winner of the contest (12 : 4 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm X-T1 and the Olympus E-M5 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the X-T1 or the E-M5 III perform in practice. 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 why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-T1	5/5	+ +	84/100	5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	1,299
2.		Olympus E-M5 III	5/5	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2019	1,199
3.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	..	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	1,699
4.		Fujifilm X-T2	5/5	+ +	86/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2016	1,599
5.		Fujifilm X-A2	4/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	399
6.		Fujifilm X-T10	4.5/5	+ +	80/100	5/5	5/5	May 2015	799
7.		Fujifilm X100T	5/5	+	81/100	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2014	1,299
8.		Fujifilm X100S	5/5	+ +	81/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2013	1,299
9.		Fujifilm X-A1	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2013	399
10.		Fujifilm X-E2	4/5	..	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	999
11.		Fujifilm X-M1	3/5	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	699
12.		Fujifilm X-Pro1	5/5	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	1,699
13.		Olympus PEN-F	..	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	1,199
14.		Olympus E-M5 II	5/5	+ +	81/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2015	1,099
15.		Olympus E-M1	5/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2013	1,399
16.		Olympus E-M5	4/5	+ +	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	Feb 2012	1,299
17.		Panasonic GX8	5/5	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2015	1,199
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. 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: Fujifilm X-T1 vs Olympus E-M5 III

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.

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