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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(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
  • 580g - 134 x 91 x 69mm
  • Announced February 2020
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M1 II
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Expand to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Introduced October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Olympus E-M1 III versus Sony A6500, one being a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 III (20MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M1 III was introduced 3 years later than the A6500 and that is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the E-M1 III grades versus the A6500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Sony A6500

 E-M1 III A6500 
IntroducedFebruary 2020October 2016More recent by 41 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k922kSharper display (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 A6500 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony A6500

 E-M1 III A6500 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M1 III enjoys outside measurements of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") along with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) while the Sony A6500 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M1 III versus Sony A6500 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-M1 III against the A6500.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1 III and A6500 is 67 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The graphic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M1 III and A6500.

All in all, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M1 III having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A6500 will resolve more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics much more aggressively. The more recent E-M1 III is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography information
Sony A6500 Portrait photography information
77
manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
80
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Street photography with Sony A6500
78
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
environment sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
weather sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Sports photography with Sony A6500
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (60.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
77
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Travel photography with Sony A6500
79
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
includes focus via touch
megapixel count good (20MP)
selfie friendly display
74
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
supports touch to focus
good megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery pack (350 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography details
Sony A6500 Landscape photography details
81
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
two card slots
79
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather sealing
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M1 III
Vlogging with Sony A6500
79
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
has microphone socket
39
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with mic support
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Sony A6500
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIISony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Sony Alpha a6500
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2020-02-11 2016-10-06
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic IX Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest enhanced ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 425
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000s 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate 60.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 580g (1.28 lb) 453g (1.00 lb)
Dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 85
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 420 shots 350 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Two One
Price at release $1,800 $1,298