Olympus OM-D E-M5 vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III: 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 III 4.6 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 III

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III 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 0.78 DN, or 4.6 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 2000 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Full well at base ISO is about 22,517 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 1170.

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

ISO	Olympus OM-D E-M5	Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
64	–	0.883
200	0.979	0.779
250	1.149	0.877
320	1.385	1.000
400	1.094	1.197
500	1.301	1.414
640	1.548	1.647
800	1.879	2.028
1000	2.297	2.395
1250	2.848	2.928
1600	3.531	3.555
2000	4.377	3.294
2500	5.502	3.891
3200	6.821	4.790
4000	8.634	5.696
5000	10.853	7.111
6400	13.737	8.938
8000	17.268	11.236
10000	21.706	14.320
12800	27.665	17.630
16000	34.297	22.785
20000	43.713	28.443
25600	54.948	35.753

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