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Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950

Portability
58
Imaging
48
Features
76
Overall
59
Olympus E-5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-3
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Released February 2009
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus E-5 versus Sony S950, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-5 (12MP) and the S950 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-5 (Four Thirds) and S950 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The E-5 was brought out 24 months after the S950 making them a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the E-5 grades against the S950 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-5 over the Sony S950

 E-5 S950 
ReleasedFebruary 2011February 2009Newer by 24 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Olympus E-5

 S950 E-5 

Common features in the Olympus E-5 and Sony S950

 E-5 S950 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-5 has outer measurements of 143mm x 117mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs) and the Sony S950 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-5 versus Sony S950 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the E-5 versus the S950.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-5 and S950 is 58 and 94 respectively.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-5 and S950.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh simpler and the Olympus E-5 will give you more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent E-5 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-5 Portrait photography details
Sony S950 Portrait photography details
60
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
26
manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-5 Street photography info
Sony S950 Street photography info
71
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proof
56
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S950 as a Sports photography camera
59
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low frames per second (5.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
24
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-5
Travel photography with Sony S950
56
weather proof
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
50
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S950 as a Landscape photography camera
65
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
31
manual focus
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-5
Vlogging with Sony S950
64
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
includes microphone port
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-5 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-5 and Sony S950
 Olympus E-5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus E-5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-03 2009-02-17
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic V+ -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Cross focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech HyperCrystal transmissive LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 18.00 m (at ISO 200) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 800 gr (1.76 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 143 x 117 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BLM-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II)/SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Two Single
Retail price $1,700 $130