Olympus OM-D E-M1 vs Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Olympus OM-D E-M1 3.4 e⁻ (ISO 200), Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II 7.2 e⁻ (ISO 200).

Olympus OM-D E-M1

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 was measured at 23 ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (200) read noise is 0.77 DN, or 3.4 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 1600 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 6400 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 16,735 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 870.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II was measured at 23 ISO settings from ISO 64 to ISO 25600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (200) read noise is 0.86 DN, or 7.2 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 3200 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 12800 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 31,816 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 1660.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 vs Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II read noise table

ISO	Olympus OM-D E-M1	Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
64	–	0.853
100	0.818	–
200	0.774	0.865
250	0.847	0.702
320	0.933	0.801
400	1.042	0.927
500	1.149	1.057
640	1.301	1.292
800	1.558	1.548
1000	1.879	1.828
1250	2.204	2.204
1600	2.732	2.603
2000	3.411	2.445
2500	4.141	2.990
3200	5.098	3.555
4000	6.320	4.317
5000	7.464	5.278
6400	9.254	6.233
8000	11.472	7.890
10000	14.320	9.987
12800	18.252	12.295
16000	22.785	16.111
20000	29.243	19.562
25600	37.014	25.281

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