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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100

Portability
81
Imaging
63
Features
83
Overall
71
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 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
  • Announced August 2020
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M10 III
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Replaced the Sony a5000
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M10 IV versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M10 IV (20MP) and the a5100 (24MP) is pretty close but the E-M10 IV (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-M10 IV was unveiled 6 years after the a5100 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 IV being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the E-M10 IV matches up vs the a5100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 IV over the Sony a5100

 E-M10 IV a5100 
LaunchedAugust 2020August 2014More modern by 73 months
Screen resolution1040k922kClearer screen (+118k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Olympus E-M10 IV

 a5100 E-M10 IV 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony a5100

 E-M10 IV a5100 
Focus manually Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 IV features physical measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") along with a weight of 383 grams (0.84 lbs) whilst the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M10 IV versus Sony a5100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M10 IV versus the a5100.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 IV and a5100 is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes purely by viewing technical specs. The picture below may provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 IV and a5100.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M10 IV having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony a5100 will result in extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer E-M10 IV is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Portrait photography information
Sony a5100 Portrait photography information
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW formats
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Street photography details
Sony a5100 Street photography details
84
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
82
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Sports photography highlights
Sony a5100 Sports photography highlights
73
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
68
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
good battery power (400 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Travel photography details
Sony a5100 Travel photography details
85
has bluetooth
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
80
good battery power (400 per charge)
comes with focus by touch
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV as a Landscape photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Landscape photography camera
83
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (400 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 IV Vlogging factors
Sony a5100 Vlogging factors
78
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
missing mic socket
34
touchscreen
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic port
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Olympus E-M10 IV vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 IV and Sony a5100
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 IVSony Alpha a5100
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV Sony Alpha a5100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2020-08-04 2014-08-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 179
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,040k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 8.7fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.20 m (at ISO 200) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Redeye, fill-in, off, redeye slow-sync (1st-curtain), slow sync (1st-curtain), slow sync (2nd-curtain), manual Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 383g (0.84 pounds) 283g (0.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 49mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 1.9") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 400 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $699 $448