Clicky

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
81
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 383g - 122 x 84 x 49mm
  • Released August 2020
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M10 III
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Successor is Sony NEX-5N
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-M10 IV versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the E-M10 IV (20MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the E-M10 IV (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) posses different sensor sizing.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The E-M10 IV was revealed 10 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the E-M10 IV matches up vs the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 IV over the Sony NEX-5

 E-M10 IV NEX-5 
RevealedAugust 2020June 2010More recent by 124 months
Screen resolution1040k920kSharper screen (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus E-M10 IV

 NEX-5 E-M10 IV 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony NEX-5

 E-M10 IV NEX-5 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M10 IV offers exterior measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") having a weight of 383 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M10 IV versus Sony NEX-5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use during that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M10 IV and the NEX-5.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M10 IV and NEX-5 is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 IV and NEX-5.

As you can see, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M10 IV with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Olympus E-M10 IV will give you more detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger E-M10 IV should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography highlights
77
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Street photography features
Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
84
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
features touch focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
76
has a tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M10 IV
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
73
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
52
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Travel photography information
Sony NEX-5 Travel photography information
85
has bluetooth
features touch focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M10 IV
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5
83
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Vlogging details
Sony NEX-5 Vlogging details
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
28
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone jack
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IVSony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2020-08-04 2010-06-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 200
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 8.7 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.20 m (at ISO 200) 12.00 m
Flash options Redeye, fill-in, off, redeye slow-sync (1st-curtain), slow sync (1st-curtain), slow sync (2nd-curtain), manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 383g (0.84 lb) 287g (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 69
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 796
Other
Battery life 360 photos 330 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $699 $599