Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony a5100

Below is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-M10 III versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the E-M10 III (16MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and a5100 (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-M10 III was launched 3 years later than the a5100 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a full comparison, below is a brief summary of how the E-M10 III grades versus the a5100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III & Sony Alpha a5100. The complete galleries are provided at Olympus E-M10 III Gallery & Sony a5100 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M10 III features physical measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") and a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) while the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M10 III versus Sony a5100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M10 III against the a5100.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 III and a5100 is 80 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by researching a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M10 III and a5100.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M10 III due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony a5100 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer E-M10 III should have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.