Can the Olympus OM-D E-M5 make sharp 16x20-inch landscape prints?
Asked 10/15/2012
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I’m considering the Olympus OM-D E-M5 with good Olympus prime lenses for landscape work. Can files from the E-M5 produce sharp, detailed 16x20-inch prints or larger? I usually shoot from a tripod with careful technique and low ISO. With a Panasonic G2, I found prints larger than about 12x16 started to lose detail, while I’ve had much better results printing larger from an APS-C Pentax K-5. How much should I expect from the E-M5, and what factors matter most for large prints?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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Yes, it is possible to print a 16"x20" print from a Olympus OM-D EM-5 16Mp file that retains it's sharpness and detail - when viewed from a typical viewing distance.
The key here is viewing distance. Typically, a person does not view a 16"x20" print from the same distance as, say, a 4"x6".
A 'safe' calculation of viewing distance for a 16"x20" print is just over 3'. At that distance your print will appear 'just a sharp' as a 4"x6" viewed at 11". I'm using quotes because how the print is displayed plays a role - and it's also quite subjective.
Additionally, there are many factors in play regarding sharpness within an given image, regardless of print size. Luminous Landscape has some info regarding this, as well as other aspects of overall image quality.
Originally by user13406. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user13406
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. A 16x20-inch print from the Olympus OM-D E-M5 can look sharp and detailed, especially for landscapes shot carefully at low ISO with a good lens. Several key factors matter more than sensor format alone.
First, viewing distance is important: larger prints are normally viewed from farther away, so they can appear very sharp even if they would not hold up the same way under close inspection.
Second, image quality at capture matters a lot—good technique, solid support, careful focus, low ISO, and a strong lens all help. Based on the shared experience here, the E-M5 does well at around ISO 400 or below for 16x20 prints, while softness becomes more noticeable as print size increases.
Third, processing matters. Good RAW sharpening can help maximize detail.
That said, the Pentax K-5 is still likely to have an advantage for very large prints, and matching it won’t be easy. But if your goal is a sharp 16x20 from an E-M5, the answer is yes—particularly with low-ISO files, good optics, and realistic viewing distance expectations.
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