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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Launched February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-3
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A99
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-5 versus Sony A99 II, both Advanced DSLR cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a big difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and A99 II (Full frame) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-5 was unveiled 6 years before the A99 II and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-5 grades versus the A99 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony A99 II

 E-5 A99 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Olympus E-5

 A99 II E-5 
IntroducedSeptember 2016February 2011More recent by 68 months
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony A99 II

 E-5 A99 II 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully articulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 provides outer 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 A99 II has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") having a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 versus Sony A99 II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-5 versus the A99 II.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the E-5 and A99 II is 58 and 57 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor measurements just by seeing specs. The visual underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and A99 II.

All in all, the two cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-5 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A99 II will show extra detail having an extra 30 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older E-5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-5
Portrait photography with Sony A99 II
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
86
has manual focus
megapixel count fantastic (42MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography factors
Sony A99 II Street photography factors
71
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
76
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Sports photography camera
59
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
82
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count fantastic (42MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (490 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-5
Travel photography with Sony A99 II
56
weather proofing
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
70
environment proofing
connects via bluetooth
megapixel count fantastic (42 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery pack (490 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
82
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count fantastic (42MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
no low pass filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
has dual storage slots
terrible battery pack (490 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging details
Sony A99 II Vlogging details
64
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
includes external microphone support
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
78
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic jack
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony A99 II
 Olympus E-5Sony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-5 Sony Alpha A99 II
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-02-03 2016-09-19
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 42MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 7952 x 5304
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 11 399
Cross type focus points 11 79
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800 grams (1.76 lb) 849 grams (1.87 lb)
Dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 92
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 25.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 13.4
DXO Low light rating 519 2317
Other
Battery life 870 photographs 490 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery ID BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Storage slots 2 2
Pricing at release $1,700 $3,198