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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 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
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 III
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Launched April 2017
  • Replacement is Sony A9 II
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and A9 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was introduced 3 years before the A9 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summation of how the E-M5 II matches up vs the A9 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony A9

 E-M5 II A9 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 A9 E-M5 II 
LaunchedApril 2017February 2015Newer by 26 months
Display resolution1440k1037kClearer display (+403k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A9

 E-M5 II A9 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 II enjoys physical measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") with a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) and the Sony A9 has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") having a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 II and the A9.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and A9 is 80 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions just by going over specs. The pic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and A9.

All in all, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 II with its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A9 will deliver greater detail using its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 II is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography details
Sony A9 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
83
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography advice
Sony A9 Street photography advice
82
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
features focus by touch
environment sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
79
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
provides touch to focus
weather proof
great ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Sports photography with Sony A9
65
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (310 shots)
has no phase detect auto focus
86
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (20.0 fps)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery (650 shots)
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
74
environment sealing
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
73
good battery (650 shots)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography features
Sony A9 Landscape photography features
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (310 per charge)
85
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
good battery (650 per charge)
2 card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging information
Sony A9 Vlogging information
82
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
36
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have external microphone support
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A9
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha A9
Type Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-02-06 2017-04-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII BIONZ X
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 81 693
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469 grams (1.03 pounds) 673 grams (1.48 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 92
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.3
DXO Low light rating 896 3517
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 650 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single 2
Price at launch $699 $4,498