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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 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
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-3
Sony A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Boost to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Released January 2019
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and A6400 (24MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and A6400 (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-5 was manufactured 9 years before the A6400 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A6400 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the E-5 matches up versus the A6400 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony A6400

 E-5 A6400 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Olympus E-5

 A6400 E-5 
ReleasedJanuary 2019February 2011Fresher by 96 months
Display resolution922k920kCrisper display (+2k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony A6400

 E-5 A6400 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 has got exterior measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") along with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony A6400 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") having a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-5 compared to the A6400.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and A6400 is 58 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and A6400.

As you can tell, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-5 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A6400 will deliver extra detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography details
Sony A6400 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
81
has manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography advice
Sony A6400 Street photography advice
71
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proof
81
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
supports focus via touch
weather proofing
above average ISO range (32,000)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Sports photography camera
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
environment proof
supports phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
76
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Travel photography camera
56
environment proof
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
87
weather proofing
has bluetooth
supports focus via touch
decent MP (24MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
environment proof
has double storage slots
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (32,000)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-5
Vlogging with Sony A6400
64
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
comes with external microphone port
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
80
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
features face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external mic socket
does not have image stabilization
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony A6400
 Olympus E-5Sony Alpha a6400
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-5 Sony Alpha a6400
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-02-03 2019-01-15
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 32000
Maximum boosted ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 425
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 45 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
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
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 grams (1.76 pounds) 403 grams (0.89 pounds)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 83
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 13.6
DXO Low light score 519 1431
Other
Battery life 870 pictures 410 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Card slots Dual Single
Cost at launch $1,700 $898