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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7R IV front
Portability
62
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-3
Sony A7R IV
(Full Review)
  • 61MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Boost to 102800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 665g - 129 x 96 x 78mm
  • Released July 2019
  • Earlier Model is Sony A7R III
  • Successor is Sony A7R V
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and A7R IV (61MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and A7R IV (Full frame) offer different sensor size.

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The E-5 was unveiled 9 years earlier than the A7R IV and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A7R IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the E-5 grades against the A7R IV when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony A7R IV

 E-5 A7R IV 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A7R IV over the Olympus E-5

 A7R IV E-5 
ReleasedJuly 2019February 2011More recent by 102 months
Screen resolution1440k920kClearer screen (+520k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony A7R IV

 E-5 A7R IV 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-5 comes with exterior dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Sony A7R IV has specifications of 129mm x 96mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 665 grams (1.47 lbs).

See the Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-5 versus the A7R IV.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and A7R IV is 58 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading specifications. The visual below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and A7R IV.

To sum up, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-5 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony A7R IV will offer you extra detail having an extra 49MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography info
Sony A7R IV Portrait photography info
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
88
has manual focus
amazing sensor resolution (61 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A7R IV as a Street photography camera
71
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
79
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
boasts touch focus
environment proof
above average ISO range (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography features
Sony A7R IV Sports photography features
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
90
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing sensor resolution (61MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proof
better than average battery life (670 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography information
Sony A7R IV Travel photography information
56
environment proof
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
74
better than average battery life (670 CIPA)
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
boasts touch focus
amazing sensor resolution (61MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7R IV as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
88
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
amazing sensor resolution (61MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (32,000)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
better than average battery life (670 CIPA)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging features
Sony A7R IV Vlogging features
64
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
includes external microphone support
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
37
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A7R IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony A7R IV
 Olympus E-5Sony Alpha A7R IV
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-5 Sony Alpha A7R IV
Class Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2011-02-03 2019-07-16
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 61 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4032 x 3024 9504 x 6336
Highest native ISO 6400 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 102800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 567
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 45 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 5,760 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 665g (1.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 129 x 96 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 99
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 26.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 14.8
DXO Low light score 519 3344
Other
Battery life 870 images 670 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Dual Dual
Launch cost $1,700 $3,498