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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500

Portability
67
Imaging
62
Features
96
Overall
75
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M1 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Released February 2020
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M1 II
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Superseded the Sony WX350
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony WX500, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M1 III (20MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is pretty close but the E-M1 III (Four Thirds) and WX500 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M1 III was announced 4 years later than the WX500 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a concise view of how the E-M1 III grades against the WX500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 III over the Sony WX500

 E-M1 III WX500 
LaunchedFebruary 2020April 2015Fresher by 59 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus E-M1 III

 WX500 E-M1 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony WX500

 E-M1 III WX500 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1 III comes with outside dimensions of 134mm x 91mm x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") and a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M1 III and Sony WX500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 III and the WX500.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 III and WX500 is 67 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing merely by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M1 III and WX500.

Clearly, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M1 III having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M1 III will render extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The younger E-M1 III is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Portrait photography information
Sony WX500 Portrait photography information
77
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files
39
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Street photography advice
Sony WX500 Street photography advice
78
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
70
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (236g)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M1 III
Sports photography with Sony WX500
81
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (60.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Travel photography camera
79
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
features focus via touch
good resolution (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
71
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (236 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Landscape photography details
Sony WX500 Landscape photography details
81
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
49
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M1 III Vlogging details
Sony WX500 Vlogging details
79
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
comes with external microphone support
35
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (236g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
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Olympus E-M1 III vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M1 III and Sony WX500
 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2020-02-11 2015-04-14
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic IX Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW pictures
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 121 -
Cross type focus points 121 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 60.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 580 grams (1.28 pounds) 236 grams (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 134 x 91 x 69mm (5.3" x 3.6" x 2.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 420 pictures 360 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLH-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on first slot) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Two 1
Cost at release $1,800 $348