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Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Olympus E-5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • 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
  • Announced February 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-3
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Old Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 V
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-5 and Sony RX100 IV, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the E-5 (12MP) and RX100 IV (20MP) and the E-5 (Four Thirds) and RX100 IV (1") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-5 was revealed 5 years prior to the RX100 IV which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-5 grades vs the RX100 IV with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony RX100 IV

 E-5 RX100 IV 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Olympus E-5

 RX100 IV E-5 
ReleasedJune 2015February 2011More modern by 52 months
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony RX100 IV

 E-5 RX100 IV 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 enjoys physical measurements 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 RX100 IV has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-5 and Sony RX100 IV in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-5 versus the RX100 IV.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-5 and RX100 IV is 58 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing specifications. The pic here will offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and RX100 IV.

To sum up, the 2 cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-5 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Sony RX100 IV will result in more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged E-5 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography highlights
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
65
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Street photography camera
71
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (298g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography factors
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (5.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
68
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (16.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
comes with tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Travel photography camera
56
weather proofing
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
86
lighter than competition (298 grams)
good MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
quite wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-5
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 IV
65
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
has double storage slots
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
74
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-5
Vlogging with Sony RX100 IV
64
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
includes external mic port
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
81
quite wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition (298g)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony RX100 IV
 Olympus E-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus E-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-02-03 2015-06-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic V+ Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4032 x 3024 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 25
Cross type focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Available lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames per second 16.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 18.00 m (at ISO 200) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/2000 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 800g (1.76 lb) 298g (0.66 lb)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 70
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.5 12.6
DXO Low light rating 519 562
Other
Battery life 870 photos 280 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLM-5 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Dual Single
Retail pricing $1,700 $898