Existing Olympus Micro Four Thirds owners should upgrade to the E-M5 Mark II, while new buyers should put it on the shortlist. It's that excellent.

High-quality stills and videos; Five-axis image stabilization; Superb high ISO handling; 40-megapixel photo mode; Highly customizable

Menu system and controls slightly clunky to use; Flash not built in; No 4K support

Among a season of good cameras last year from Sony, Samsung and Fujifilm was Olympus' OM-D E-M5 Mark II. This is one micro four-thirds mirrorless camera can shoot images at a resolution of up to 40 megapixels.

Excellent camera. Weather sealed, responsive etc. etc. But what makes this camera stand out from all the others is its superb image stabilization. I spent one day in my local park with the 40-150 f2.8 lens.

Robust construction; responsive; excellent autofocus and absolutely incredible image stabilization

Menu navigation a bit confusing at first

Beautiful retro design. Pro-level controls. So small . The Olympus OM-D E-M5 was the mirrorless camera for discerning photographers. Three years later, it's finally getting a update in the form of the new E-M5 Mark II.

Image stabilization is second to none

Image quality hasn't improved in the three years since the original EM-5 was released; despite still being very good

The Olympus E-M5 II is a more significant reworking of its predecessor than its looks or choice of sensor seem to suggest. The camera boasts a wealth of additional features and refinements to many of the existing ones have been upgraded.

Very good image quality - good dynamic range and color; Extensive and customizable external controls; Excellent build quality and sense of solidity; Class-leading image stabilization - also available for video recording; Broad set of features to support video shooters; Clip-on flash can be rotated...

Low resolution by contemporary standards; Complex menu system and extensive customization options can be overwhelming; Video output not as detailed as it could be; Default autofocus settings limit camera performance

We knew an update to the popular Olympus OM-D E-M5 was in the offing when the company quietly announced it had stopped making the camera in November 2014. So when the E-M5 Mark II was unveiled on 5 February, nobody was really surprised.

The E-M5 Mark II is one of the best cameras for candid shooting, and certainly the smallest, as long as the lighting is good. Autofocus is quick in most conditions; five-axis image stabilization keeps photos and especially videos steady as you move around, and the alloy body with weather sealing...

Petite; weather-sealed body; Excellent photo and video quality; Five-axis image stabilization; Large articulating LCD with tap-to-focus; Electronic viewfinder

Overly complex interface; No built-in flash; Autofocus sometimes sluggish in low light

A sequel well worth your time.

Olympus has issued an OM-D E-M5 II firmware update, and you can find out how to download and install it at this . At first glance the OM-D E-M5 II firmware update 1.1 looks relatively minor, with just three changes, but two of them are actually quite important.

High quality feel; Impressive 40MP/64MP images; Excellent 5-axis image stabilisation

High Res mode demands a tripod and a still subject; Some fiddly and complex controls; Smaller sensor than some rival CSCs

? NEW: Olympus has issued an OM-D E-M5 II firmware update, and you can find out how to download and install it at this Olympus firmware web page . At first glance the OM-D E-M5 II firmware update 1.1 looks relatively minor, with just three changes, but two of them are actually quite important.