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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 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
  • Released February 2015
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5
  • Successor is Olympus E-M5 III
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony A6500, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the E-M5 II (16MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 II was unveiled 20 months before the A6500 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the E-M5 II matches up vs the A6500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony A6500

 E-M5 II A6500 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k922kSharper screen (+115k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 A6500 E-M5 II 
ReleasedOctober 2016February 2015More recent by 20 months

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A6500

 E-M5 II A6500 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 II comes with outer dimensions 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 A6500 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony A6500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the E-M5 II against the A6500.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 II and A6500 is 80 and 81 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The visual here will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 II and A6500.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 II with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A6500 will give greater detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older E-M5 II is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW files
80
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography info
Sony A6500 Street photography info
82
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
supports focus via touch
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
85
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
offers touch focus
environment sealing
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Sports photography camera
65
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
low battery (310 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
77
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Travel photography with Sony A6500
74
weather sealing
supports focus via touch
resolution is good (16MP)
selfie friendly display
low battery (310 per charge)
74
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
offers touch focus
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
terrible battery pack (350 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography info
Sony A6500 Landscape photography info
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
low battery (310 per charge)
79
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery pack (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging information
Sony A6500 Vlogging information
82
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone port
39
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A6500
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Alpha a6500
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Alpha a6500
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2016-10-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
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 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 425
Lens
Lens mount 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" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000s 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469 gr (1.03 lb) 453 gr (1.00 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 85
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.7
DXO Low light score 896 1405
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 350 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $699 $1,298