Olympus E-M1X vs Sony NEX-5

Following is a complete assessment of the Olympus E-M1X vs Sony NEX-5, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the E-M1X (20MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the E-M1X (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

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The E-M1X was brought out 8 years after the NEX-5 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M1X being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M1X grades versus the NEX-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M1X and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-M1X Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M1X has exterior measurements of 144mm x 147mm x 75mm (5.7" x 5.8" x 3.0") having a weight of 997 grams (2.20 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M1X vs Sony NEX-5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M1X compared to the NEX-5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M1X and NEX-5 is 54 and 89 respectively.

Quite often, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through specifications. The image here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M1X and NEX-5.

Plainly, each of the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M1X due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-M1X will resolve more detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The newer E-M1X should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.