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Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V 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
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-3
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Announced April 2013
  • Older Model is Sony HX30V
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and HX50V (20MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and HX50V (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The E-5 was revealed 3 years earlier than the HX50V and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony HX50V being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-5 grades against the HX50V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony HX50V

 E-5 HX50V 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Olympus E-5

 HX50V E-5 
AnnouncedApril 2013February 2011Fresher by 27 months
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony HX50V

 E-5 HX50V 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-5 provides external measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") with a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) while the Sony HX50V has dimensions of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") along with a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-5 vs the HX50V.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and HX50V is 58 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking specs. The visual underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-5 and HX50V.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-5 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX50V will resolve extra detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The older E-5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Portrait photography camera
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
50
focusing manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-5
Street photography with Sony HX50V
71
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (272g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography info
Sony HX50V Sports photography info
59
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery (400 per charge)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX50V Travel photography highlights
56
weather sealing
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
71
better than average battery (400 shots)
lighter than competitors in class (272g)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX50V Landscape photography factors
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse mode
53
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
better than average battery (400 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5 )
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-5 Vlogging info
Sony HX50V Vlogging info
64
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focus
does have microphone jack
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
34
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (272g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5 )
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony HX50V
 Olympus E-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-03 2013-04-24
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 5184 x 2920
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology HyperCrystal transmissive LCD XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800g (1.76 lbs) 272g (0.60 lbs)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 519 not tested
Other
Battery life 870 photos 400 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLM-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual Single
Launch cost $1,700 $439