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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
Portability
62
Imaging
75
Features
93
Overall
82

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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
  • Announced February 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 III
Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Replaced the Sony A9
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony A9 II, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and A9 II (24MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and A9 II (Full frame) enjoy different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was released 5 years earlier than the A9 II which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the E-M5 II scores vs the A9 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

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

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

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

 A9 II E-M5 II 
LaunchedOctober 2019February 2015More modern by 56 months
Display resolution1440k1037kCrisper display (+403k dot)

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

 E-M5 II A9 II 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 II comes with outer measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) while the Sony A9 II has dimensions of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony A9 II in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the E-M5 II and the A9 II.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and A9 II is 80 and 62 respectively.

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

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by going through specifications. The pic below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and A9 II.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 II featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony A9 II will show more detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 II will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography advice
Sony A9 II Portrait photography advice
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW files
85
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography info
Sony A9 II Street photography info
82
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
has focus via touch
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
78
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
has focus via touch
weather sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Sports photography with Sony A9 II
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
bad battery power (310 shots)
no phase detect AF
87
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
great battery pack (690 per charge)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Travel photography camera
Sony A9 II as a Travel photography camera
74
environment proof
has focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery power (310 shots)
73
great battery pack (690 per charge)
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
has focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography factors
Sony A9 II Landscape photography factors
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
bad battery power (310 shots)
86
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
great battery pack (690 per charge)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 II Vlogging highlights
82
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic jack
36
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
has external mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A9 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A9 II
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Alpha A9 Mark II
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha A9 Mark II
Type Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2015-02-06 2019-10-03
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII BIONZ X
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 81 693
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000s 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes 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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469 gr (1.03 lb) 678 gr (1.49 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 690 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One Dual
Pricing at release $699 $4,498