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Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
75
Overall
63
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10 III
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M10 II
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M10 IV
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A900
  • Successor is Sony A99 II
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M10 III and Sony A99, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the E-M10 III (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the E-M10 III (Four Thirds) and A99 (Full frame) posses different sensor size.

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The E-M10 III was introduced 4 years after the A99 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M10 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-M10 III grades versus the A99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 III over the Sony A99

 E-M10 III A99 
RevealedAugust 2017December 2012Newer by 58 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Olympus E-M10 III

 A99 E-M10 III 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k1040kSharper screen (+189k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 III and Sony A99

 E-M10 III A99 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M10 III provides outer measurements of 122mm x 84mm x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") along with a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) and the Sony A99 has sizing of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M10 III and Sony A99 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-M10 III and the A99.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-M10 III and A99 is 80 and 57 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specifications. The image below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 III and A99.

Plainly, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M10 III using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A99 will render greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The fresher E-M10 III should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Portrait photography advice
Sony A99 Portrait photography advice
73
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
81
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Street photography camera
Sony A99 as a Street photography camera
77
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
heavier than competition (410g)
75
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M10 III
Sports photography with Sony A99
69
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
no phase detect AF
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect auto focus
not so great battery (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Travel photography advice
Sony A99 Travel photography advice
67
features focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
heavier than competition (410 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
60
weather proof
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
80
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
not so great battery (500 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 III Vlogging advice
Sony A99 Vlogging advice
32
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic support
heavier than competition (410 grams)
76
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic support
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Olympus E-M10 III vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 III and Sony A99
 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIISony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Sony SLT-A99
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Released 2017-08-31 2012-12-12
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 121 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.62x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 8.6 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.80 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 410 grams (0.90 pounds) 812 grams (1.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 84 x 50mm (4.8" x 3.3" x 2.0") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 330 shots 500 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLS-50 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported) Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots Single 2
Cost at launch $650 $1,998