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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV 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
  • Announced February 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 III
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 V
Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and RX100 IV (1") provide totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 II was unveiled 4 months before the RX100 IV so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 II matches up vs the RX100 IV in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony RX100 IV

 E-M5 II RX100 IV 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Olympus E-M5 II

 RX100 IV E-M5 II 
Screen resolution1229k1037kClearer screen (+192k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony RX100 IV

 E-M5 II RX100 IV 
ReleasedFebruary 2015June 2015Similar generation
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 II enjoys outside dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 II versus the RX100 IV.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 II and RX100 IV is 80 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading through technical specs. The photograph here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 II and RX100 IV.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 II using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony RX100 IV will give extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography info
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
exports RAW formats
65
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
features face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Street photography with Sony RX100 IV
82
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports touch focus
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others in class (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography info
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography info
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
environment proof
terrible battery power (310 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
68
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (16.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
features tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5 II
Travel photography with Sony RX100 IV
74
environment proof
supports touch focus
resolution is good (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (310 CIPA)
86
lighter than others in class (298 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography advice
74
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
terrible battery power (310 shots)
74
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging factors
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging factors
82
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone support
81
pretty wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than others in class (298g)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony RX100 IV
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2015-02-06 2015-06-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 81 25
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 16.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/2000 secs
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 469 grams (1.03 lbs) 298 grams (0.66 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 70
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.6
DXO Low light rating 896 562
Other
Battery life 310 shots 280 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $699 $898