Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-5

Following is a extensive assessment of the Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M10 (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M10 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The E-M10 was unveiled 3 years after the NEX-5 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the E-M10 grades versus the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus OM-D E-M10 and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus E-M10 Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 has outer measurements of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M10 vs Sony NEX-5 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M10 compared to the NEX-5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M10 and NEX-5 is 82 and 89 respectively.

Typically, its difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through a spec sheet. The image underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 and NEX-5.

As you can see, the 2 cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M10 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Olympus E-M10 will give you extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M10 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.