Olympus E-M OM-D 1 Mark II

The E-M1 Mark II is a rugged speed demon with 60fps bursts and stellar stabilization that still holds up for action photography. Its sensor and video are dated, but at the low end of its crazy price range, it's one of the best bargains out there. If you find one under $700, buy it and laugh at the rain.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is a camera that refuses to quit. It's been around since 2016, but that metal body, 60fps electronic burst, and rock-solid 5-axis stabilization still turn heads, especially at the used prices you can find these days. If you need a cheap ticket into serious wildlife or sports shooting, this might be it.

Burst shooting is where this thing shines. You get 15fps with the mechanical shutter and a wild 60fps in electronic mode, putting it in the 91st percentile of our database. The 121-point autofocus isn't the smartest AI-driven system by 2025 standards, but it's reliable and snappy for tracking birds or runners. Image stabilization is genuinely excellent in the real world, even if our percentile chart puts it lower because it's compared against full-frame bodies with newer tech. The 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor, though, feels its age. Low-light performance and dynamic range land in the 26th percentile, and video tops out at 4K30 with no Log profiles, so it's a mediocre 58th percentile for filmmakers. Battery life is also just average.

Here's the thing: the price on this camera is all over the map. We've seen it as low as $560 and as high as $2600. If you can grab one for under $700, especially a mint used copy, it's an absolute steal for action photography. At that price, you're getting build quality and burst speeds that rival cameras twice the cost. But if you're looking at a new unit near the high end, just stop. The newer OM System OM-1 or a Sony a6700 will run circles around it in sensor performance and video for similar money. At the low end of that $2040 spread, though? Hard to beat.

Stacked against newer rivals, the E-M1 II is a mixed bag. The Fujifilm X-H2 and Sony a6700 demolish it in sensor resolution, dynamic range, and video features like 4K120 and 10-bit color. The Panasonic S5IIX and Canon EOS R6 Mark II are full-frame beasts that open up incredible low-light performance but come with bigger glass and weight. Where this Olympus wins is raw burst speed and sheer ruggedness in a tiny package. The Nikon Z5 II is probably its closest contemporary, but the Z5 II's full-frame sensor will give you that background separation many crave. If you already own Micro Four Thirds lenses, the E-M1 II makes a killer second body; if you're starting fresh, the format's size advantage is the main reason to choose it over those APS-C heavyweights.

If you shoot in dim light most of the time or need high-end video features like 10-bit 4K60, this isn't your camera. The older sensor really falls behind in noise performance and dynamic range compared to modern APS-C or full-frame options, so low-light shooters will be disappointed. Also, if you're buying new at full retail, you're throwing money away when the OM-1 or Sony a6700 exist.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is for the budget-conscious wildlife or sports shooter who needs a body that can survive a downpour and fire bursts all day without missing a beat. Its stabilization and handling are so good that you'll forgive the older sensor and forgettable video. This is a tool, not a gadget, and it just works.