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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 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  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 III
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Released June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-5N
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony NEX-5, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is fairly similar but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 II was announced 4 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M5 II grades against the NEX-5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony NEX-5

 E-M5 II NEX-5 
ReleasedFebruary 2015June 2010More recent by 57 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k920kSharper display (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 NEX-5 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony NEX-5

 E-M5 II NEX-5 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 II provides 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) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony NEX-5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 II compared to the NEX-5.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and NEX-5 is 80 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading specs. The graphic here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and NEX-5.

All in all, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 II using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Olympus E-M5 II will deliver more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer E-M5 II should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography factors
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Street photography camera
82
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus via touch
weather proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
76
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography factors
Sony NEX-5 Sports photography factors
65
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
not so great battery pack (310 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
52
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
74
weather proofing
has focus via touch
resolution is good (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery pack (310 per charge)
59
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
not so great battery pack (310 per charge)
68
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 II
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
82
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic socket
28
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony NEX-5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha NEX-5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2010-06-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 469 grams (1.03 pounds) 287 grams (0.63 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 69
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.2
DXO Low light rating 896 796
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 330 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $699 $599