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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II 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
  • Launched February 2015
  • Old Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 III
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Revealed September 2016
  • Superseded the Sony A99
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II Overview

Here is a thorough analysis of the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A99 II, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and A99 II (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 II was manufactured 19 months prior to the A99 II which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-M5 II matches up against the A99 II in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony A99 II

 E-M5 II A99 II 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Olympus E-M5 II

 A99 II E-M5 II 
RevealedSeptember 2016February 2015Fresher by 19 months
Screen resolution1229k1037kCrisper screen (+192k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A99 II

 E-M5 II A99 II 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully articulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 II has got outside 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 A99 II has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") along with a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A99 II in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 II versus the A99 II.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and A99 II is 80 and 57 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 II and A99 II.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 II featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A99 II will produce greater detail due to its extra 26MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The older E-M5 II will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
86
manual focus
great megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography info
Sony A99 II Street photography info
82
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
offers touch focus
weather proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
76
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography factors
Sony A99 II Sports photography factors
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
bad battery pack (310 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
82
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect AF
bad battery life (490 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Travel photography with Sony A99 II
74
weather proofing
offers touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery pack (310 per charge)
70
weather proof
supports bluetooth
great megapixels (42MP)
screen is selfie friendly
bad battery life (490 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Sony A99 II
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
bad battery pack (310 CIPA)
82
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great megapixels (42 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
bad battery life (490 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging highlights
Sony A99 II Vlogging highlights
82
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic socket
78
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A99 II
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha A99 II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Launched 2015-02-06 2016-09-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 42MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 7952 x 5304
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 399
Cross focus points - 79
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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, XAVC S
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469 gr (1.03 lb) 849 gr (1.87 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 92
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.4
DXO Low light score 896 2317
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 490 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Storage slots Single Two
Cost at release $699 $3,198