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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 front
Portability
64
Imaging
48
Features
38
Overall
44

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 800g - 143 x 117 x 75mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-3
Sony A100
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 638g - 133 x 95 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2006
  • Superseded the Konica Minolta 5D
  • Updated by Sony A550
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the A100 (10MP) is very similar but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and A100 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

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The E-5 was unveiled 4 years later than the A100 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A100 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the E-5 grades against the A100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony A100

 E-5 A100 
IntroducedFebruary 2011July 2006More recent by 55 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A100 over the Olympus E-5

 A100 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony A100

 E-5 A100 
Manually focus More exact focus
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-5 features external dimensions of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) whilst the Sony A100 has measurements of 133mm x 95mm x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 638 grams (1.41 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-5 versus the A100.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and A100 is 58 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The photograph here might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-5 and A100.

All in all, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-5 using its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Olympus E-5 will offer extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The newer E-5 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography details
Sony A100 Portrait photography details
60
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
52
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography features
Sony A100 Street photography features
71
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
64
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography info
Sony A100 Sports photography info
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (5.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
49
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
doesn't have liveview
max fps low (3.0 fps)
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography factors
Sony A100 Travel photography factors
56
environment proof
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
45
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A100 as a Landscape photography camera
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
has double storage slots
low MP (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
53
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
small screen (2.5 inch)
doesn't have liveview
low resolution sensor (10MP)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A100 Vlogging highlights
64
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
comes with external mic port
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
9
no video
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony A100
 Olympus E-5Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A100
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-02-03 2006-07-31
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 4032 x 3024 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 45 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 638g (1.41 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 133 x 95 x 71mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 61
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 22.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 11.2
DXO Low light score 519 476
Other
Battery life 870 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-5 NP-FM55H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II)
Card slots Dual One
Launch cost $1,700 $1,000