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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Alpha A7R front
Portability
78
Imaging
74
Features
76
Overall
74

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 III
Sony A7R
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 465g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Renewed by Sony A7R II
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and A7R (36MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and A7R (Full frame) come with different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was brought out 12 months after the A7R so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the E-M5 II grades vs the A7R for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony A7R

 E-M5 II A7R 
RevealedFebruary 2015February 2014More modern by 12 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A7R over the Olympus E-M5 II

 A7R E-M5 II 
Display resolution1230k1037kClearer display (+193k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A7R

 E-M5 II A7R 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II has outside dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") having a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) and the Sony A7R has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs).

Check out the Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 II against the A7R.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and A7R is 80 and 78 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through specifications. The image underneath might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and A7R.

To sum up, both of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 II featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A7R will provide greater detail having its extra 20 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The younger E-M5 II should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Portrait photography with Sony A7R
71
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
84
focusing manually
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography advice
Sony A7R Street photography advice
82
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (25,600)
80
tilting screen
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
lighter than competitors in class (465g)
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography factors
Sony A7R Sports photography factors
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
not so great battery power (310 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
62
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (340 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography highlights
Sony A7R Travel photography highlights
74
weather proof
boasts focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery power (310 shots)
70
lighter than competitors in class (465 grams)
weather proof
megapixel count excellent (36 megapixels)
low battery pack (340 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Sony A7R
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proof
not so great battery power (310 shots)
78
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count excellent (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (340 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 II
Vlogging with Sony A7R
82
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic support
36
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic jack
lighter than competitors in class (465g)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A7R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A7R
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Alpha A7R
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha A7R
Type Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2014-02-13
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469g (1.03 lb) 465g (1.03 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 95
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 25.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.1
DXO Low light rating 896 2746
Other
Battery life 310 photos 340 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $699 $1,898