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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850

Portability
68
Imaging
60
Features
93
Overall
73
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A850 front
Portability
54
Imaging
68
Features
60
Overall
64

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 574g - 134 x 91 x 67mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M1
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M1 III
Sony A850
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Announced April 2010
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-M1 II versus Sony A850, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M1 II (20MP) and the A850 (25MP) is pretty close but the E-M1 II (Four Thirds) and A850 (Full frame) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1 II was launched 6 years later than the A850 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A850 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-M1 II grades vs the A850 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 II over the Sony A850

 E-M1 II A850 
AnnouncedSeptember 2016April 2010Fresher by 79 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k922kClearer screen (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A850 over the Olympus E-M1 II

 A850 E-M1 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 II and Sony A850

 E-M1 II A850 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 II provides physical measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") accompanied by a weight of 574 grams (1.27 lbs) while the Sony A850 has measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M1 II versus Sony A850 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 II compared to the A850.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 II and A850 is 68 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by viewing specifications. The photograph here may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 II and A850.

Plainly, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 II because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A850 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 II is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Portrait photography features
Sony A850 Portrait photography features
76
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
72
has manual focus
MP count excellent (25MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
no liveview
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Street photography features
Sony A850 Street photography features
78
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus by touch
weather sealing
lighter than competition (574g)
great ISO range (25,600)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Sports photography details
Sony A850 Sports photography details
75
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
high fps (60.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
weather proof
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max frames per second low (3.0 fps)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Travel photography features
Sony A850 Travel photography features
72
lighter than competition (574g)
weather sealing
has focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
55
weather proof
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 II Landscape photography information
Sony A850 Landscape photography information
76
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
2 card slots
not so great battery pack (350 shots)
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
no liveview
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 II
Vlogging with Sony A850
79
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has microphone support
lighter than competition (574 grams)
9
no video shooting
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Olympus E-M1 II vs Sony A850 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 II and Sony A850
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IISony Alpha DSLR-A850
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2016-09-19 2010-04-15
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 25 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 6048 x 4032
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 98%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.74x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.10 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM, 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video file format MOV, H.264 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 574g (1.27 lbs) 895g (1.97 lbs)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 67mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.6") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 12.2
DXO Low light rating 1312 1415
Other
Battery life 350 images 880 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo
Storage slots Two Two
Retail pricing $1,700 $0