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Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

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

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 410g - 122 x 84 x 50mm
  • Released August 2017
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M10 II
  • Successor is Olympus E-M10 IV
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
  • Launched June 2010
  • New Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Olympus E-M10 III and Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M10 III (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M10 III was released 7 years after the NEX-5 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the E-M10 III matches up against the NEX-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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

 E-M10 III NEX-5 
LaunchedAugust 2017June 2010More modern by 89 months
Screen resolution1040k920kCrisper screen (+120k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

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

 NEX-5 E-M10 III 

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

 E-M10 III NEX-5 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

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

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M10 III has exterior measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M10 III and Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M10 III compared to the NEX-5.

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

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 III and NEX-5 is 80 and 89 respectively.

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

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

Oftentimes, its tough to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The image here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M10 III and NEX-5.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The E-M10 III because of its tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Olympus E-M10 III will give you more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer E-M10 III is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

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

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

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography features
73
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Street photography features
Sony NEX-5 Street photography features
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
heavier than competition (410 grams)
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography features
69
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of phase detect AF
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M10 III
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
67
supports touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
heavier than competition (410 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography factors
80
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
68
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M10 III
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
32
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
heavier than competition (410 grams)
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing mic support
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIISony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2017-08-31 2010-06-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
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
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 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 data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410 gr (0.90 pounds) 287 gr (0.63 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 330 pictures 330 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $650 $599