Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A6500
71 Imaging
52 Features
85 Overall
65
81 Imaging
66 Features
85 Overall
73
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 497g - 130 x 94 x 63mm
- Launched October 2013
- Successor is Olympus E-M1 II
(Full Review)
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 25600 (Push to 51200)
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 3840 x 2160 video
- Sony E Mount
- 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
- Released October 2016
- Old Model is Sony A6300
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A6500 Overview
Following is a complete review of the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A6500, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1 (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the E-M1 (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe E-M1 was brought out 3 years prior to the A6500 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-M1 grades vs the A6500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A6500 Gallery
Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M1 & Sony Alpha a6500. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1 Gallery & Sony A6500 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M1 over the Sony A6500
| E-M1 | A6500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display resolution | 1037k | 922k | Clearer display (+115k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus E-M1
| A6500 | E-M1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | October 2016 | October 2013 | More modern by 35 months |
Common features in the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A6500
| E-M1 | A6500 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manually focus | Very precise focusing | |||
| Display type | Tilting | Tilting | Tilting display | |
| Display size | 3" | 3" | Same display measurement | |
| Selfie screen | Neither features selfie screen | |||
| Touch display | Easily navigate |
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Olympus E-M1 enjoys outside dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") having a weight of 497 grams (1.10 lbs) and the Sony A6500 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).
Look at the Olympus E-M1 and Sony A6500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M1 compared to the A6500.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M1 and A6500 is 71 and 81 respectively.
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes merely by reviewing specifications. The picture underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M1 and A6500.
To sum up, both cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M1 because of its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A6500 will deliver extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-M1 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Glossary Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoStreet Comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsSports Comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesTravel Comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideLandscape Comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesVlogging Comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
Olympus E-M1 vs Sony A6500 Specifications
| Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Sony Alpha a6500 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Olympus | Sony |
| Model type | Olympus OM-D E-M1 | Sony Alpha a6500 |
| Category | Pro Mirrorless | Advanced Mirrorless |
| Launched | 2013-10-28 | 2016-10-06 |
| Physical type | SLR-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor | TruePIC VII | Bionz X |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
| Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
| Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 366.6mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 16MP | 24MP |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
| Maximum resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 6000 x 4000 |
| Maximum native ISO | 25600 | 25600 |
| Maximum boosted ISO | - | 51200 |
| Minimum native ISO | 100 | 100 |
| RAW format | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Manual focusing | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| Single AF | ||
| AF tracking | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detection focusing | ||
| Contract detection focusing | ||
| Phase detection focusing | ||
| Total focus points | 81 | 425 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Available lenses | 107 | 121 |
| Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
| Screen | ||
| Screen type | Tilting | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
| Resolution of screen | 1,037 thousand dots | 922 thousand dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch capability | ||
| 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 | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/4000s |
| Maximum silent shutter speed | - | 1/32000s |
| Continuous shooting rate | 10.0 frames per second | 11.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
| Change WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Built-in flash | ||
| Flash distance | no built-in flash | 6.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| Flash settings | Flash Auto, 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 | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Maximum flash synchronize | 1/320s | 1/160s |
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| Video features | ||
| Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 3840x2160 |
| Video format | H.264, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S |
| Mic support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environmental sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 497g (1.10 lbs) | 453g (1.00 lbs) |
| Physical dimensions | 130 x 94 x 63mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.5") | 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around rating | 73 | 85 |
| DXO Color Depth rating | 23.0 | 24.5 |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.7 | 13.7 |
| DXO Low light rating | 757 | 1405 |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 350 images | 350 images |
| Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | BLN-1 | NP-FW50 |
| Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) | Yes |
| Time lapse feature | With downloadable app | |
| Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Card slots | 1 | 1 |
| Launch cost | $799 | $1,298 |