The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is "the best Olympus camera ever", says its maker. Can it possibly live up to the hype? The Olympus OM-D E-M1 compact system camera is a compact system camera that also works with DSLR lenses. Could this be Olympus's best camera yet?

Solid chassis; High-res tilting LCD and EVF; DSLR-esque images; Solid chassis; High-res tilting LCD and EVF; DSLR-esque images

Could be more intuitive; Fiddly controls; Could be more intuitive; Fiddly controls

In addition, the image can be seen forming on the screen of the smartphone during long exposures captured using Live Bulb and Live Time mode.

Small camera body; Plenty of direct controls; Excellent EVF; High quality images; Weather sealed

LCD not variangle; Some features hard to find; High price

The Olympus OM-D E-M5($499.00 at Amazon) knocked our socks off when we reviewed it last year, to the point where we wondered if Olympus could do any better. The OM-D E-M1 ($1,399.99 direct, body only) is what the company came up with, and the improvements include a larger, sharper EVF, built-in Wi-Fi, an improved control layout, a deeper handgrip, and faster focus speed with legacy Four Thirds SLR lenses—and that's just scratching the surface. Like the E-M5, which is supplemented by this new model rather than replaced, the E-M1 earns a 5-star rating and our Editors' Choice award for high-end mirrorless cameras. It's just that good. Design The E-M1($999.00 at Amazon) is one of the larger Micro Four Thirds bodies that you'll handle, but it's compact compared with SLRs with comparable performance. Measuring 3.7 by 5.1 by 2.5 inches (HWD), the camera weighs in at 1.1 pounds—a little bigger than the Samsung NX20( at Amazon), which packs a larger APS-C image sensor into a body that's 3...

With gorgeous images—even in low light, incredible speed, and a wealth of high-end features, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 is the best Micro Four Thirds camera that money can buy. It's an easy Editors' Choice award winner.

Impressive image quality, even at high ISO settings; Dust-proof, splash-proof design; Solid build quality; Excellent ergonomics; Best-in-class EVF; Wi-Fi; In-camera art filters and color control; Robust time lapse feature; Quick autofocus; 10.5fps burst shooting; In-camera image stabilization; Sharp, tilting touch screen

On the pricey side; No built-in flash; No support for 60fps video

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 surpasses everything that we have seen so far from an ILC. Providing amazing performance and image quality that rivals a lower level pro mode dSLR, this much smaller camera is ready to go anywhere and perform in all situations. Read more in our Full Conclusion .

iAuto shooting mode is accurate and easy in all situations; Dedicated Video Capture Button is always ready to record Full 1080p movies; Sealed Body and Magnesium Alloy frame provide a tough; go anywhere camera; Excellent overall image quality; Great Low-Light performance; Manual Mode offers complete...

No built-in flash - possible to forget or not bring the included attachable flash unit; Highest ISO settings are unacceptable due to image noise; Very high price tag for an ILC

The second of the bigger mirror-less cameras from Olympus, the E-M1 reinvents the an SLR from the 70s with bits of today, making it a standout camera for tomorrow.

Great design and weight; Two megapixel viewfinder is very clear; Supports WiFi and wireless shooting with smartphone app; Smartphone camera application can show images building in real time; Lock button for keeping shooting mode selected; Lots of buttons; Comes with small external flash

While we like the amount of buttons; this number may confuse people; Screen only pops out at various angles; as per normal with other Olympus cameras; No built-in flash; Colour filtration modes only officially apply to JPEG; and while can be used with movies; can't be shut off in these modes

It was only a year and a half ago when Olympus showed that a small, stylish camera with no mirror and a little sensor could hang in the big leagues. Many photographers instantly fell in love with the OM-D E-M5 .

It was only a year and a half ago when Olympus showed that a small, stylish camera with no mirror and a little sensor could hang in the big leagues. Many photographers instantly fell in love with the OM-D E-M5 .

, this means this camera should be, and thankfully is capable of the highest quality photos of any Micro Four Thirds camera, and when used with high quality prime lenses, the difference can be seen, although is quite subtle at times, with the previous model, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 already providing...

Best ever image quality from Micro Four Thirds; Support for both Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds lenses; In camera HDR preview and creation; Wi-Fi remote shooting improved; Improved handling and DSLR styling; 10fps continuous shooting; with good number before slowing down; Impressive 5-axis image...

Focus peaking not available in video mode; Video options better on other cameras (GH3; High price when bought with kit lenses; Lacks automatic panoramic creation mode

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Review – The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is the second model in the retro-styled OM-D series, sitting above the E-M5 at the top of the range. It looks to combine the best of a DSLR and system camera in a single package, so read our Olympus OM-D E-M1 review to find out if it succeeds

Build quality; Electronic viewfinder is excellent; Fast and responsive AF; Image quality

JPEG files a little over-processed at higher sensitivities

The 16 megapixel E-M1 is the company's top micro four thirds camera. It has a 2.36 megapixel electronic viewfinder, dual contrast and phase detection auto focus, five axis sensor-shift stabilisation and built-in Wi-Fi with remote control from a smartphone. The LCD swivels on the vertical plane.