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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 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 Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 469g - 124 x 85 x 45mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 III
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Later Model is Sony A6000
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony NEX-6, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is fairly similar but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and NEX-6 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 II was released 23 months after the NEX-6 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the E-M5 II scores versus the NEX-6 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony NEX-6

 E-M5 II NEX-6 
LaunchedFebruary 2015March 2013More modern by 23 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1037k921kSharper display (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 NEX-6 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony NEX-6

 E-M5 II NEX-6 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 II offers outer measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") with a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-6 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony NEX-6 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 II against the NEX-6.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and NEX-6 is 80 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The pic underneath may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 II and NEX-6.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but not the same sensor sizes. The E-M5 II uses the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult. The fresher E-M5 II is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Portrait photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
74
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Street photography with Sony NEX-6
82
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
78
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (345 grams)
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Sports photography camera
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
terrible battery power (310 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
66
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Travel photography camera
74
weather sealing
provides focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (310 per charge)
75
lighter than competitors in class (345 grams)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography information
Sony NEX-6 Landscape photography information
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
terrible battery power (310 shots)
75
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Vlogging camera
82
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
32
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (345g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing mic jack
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony NEX-6
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha NEX-6
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-02-06 2013-03-25
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 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 81 99
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash options 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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469g (1.03 pounds) 345g (0.76 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 78
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.1
DXO Low light rating 896 1018
Other
Battery life 310 images 360 images
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 With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $699 $365