Olympus OM-D E-M5 vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Olympus OM-D E-M5 5.9 e⁻ (ISO 200), Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II 6.4 e⁻ (ISO 200).

Olympus OM-D E-M5

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 was measured at 22 ISO settings from ISO 200 to ISO 25600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (200) read noise is 0.98 DN, or 5.9 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 640 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 3200 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 23,204 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 1200.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II 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 0.97 DN, or 6.4 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 800 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 3200 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 25,607 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 1340.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II read noise table

ISO	Olympus OM-D E-M5	Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
100	–	0.966
200	0.979	0.966
250	1.149	1.125
320	1.385	1.329
400	1.094	1.057
500	1.301	1.266
640	1.548	1.495
800	1.879	1.815
1000	2.297	2.204
1250	2.848	2.713
1600	3.531	3.364
2000	4.377	4.170
2500	5.502	5.063
3200	6.821	6.277
4000	8.634	7.835
5000	10.853	10.056
6400	13.737	12.641
8000	17.268	15.889
10000	21.706	19.973
12800	27.665	25.457
16000	34.297	31.779
20000	43.713	39.397
25600	54.948	50.213

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