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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 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
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Previous Model is Olympus E-M5
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 III
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Older Model is Sony WX350
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony WX500, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and WX500 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 II was launched 2 months before the WX500 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M5 II grades vs the WX500 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony WX500

 E-M5 II WX500 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 WX500 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony WX500

 E-M5 II WX500 
RevealedFebruary 2015April 2015Same generation
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 II has outside dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") along with a weight of 469 grams (1.03 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony WX500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 II against the WX500.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 II and WX500 is 80 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 II and WX500.

As you can see, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 II because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony WX500 will show greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography details
Sony WX500 Portrait photography details
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
exports RAW files
39
MP count decent (18MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Street photography details
Sony WX500 Street photography details
82
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
69
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236g)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Sports photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Sports photography camera
65
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
low battery power (310 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
provides tracking focus
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography info
Sony WX500 Travel photography info
74
environment proof
provides focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
screen is selfie friendly
low battery power (310 CIPA)
71
better than average battery (360 per charge)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
MP count decent (18MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
74
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
low battery power (310 per charge)
49
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
better than average battery (360 per charge)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Vlogging features
Sony WX500 Vlogging features
82
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone jack
35
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony WX500
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2015-02-06 2015-04-14
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII Bionz X
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 469g (1.03 pounds) 236g (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 896 not tested
Other
Battery life 310 images 360 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $699 $348