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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57

Portability
80
Imaging
53
Features
84
Overall
65
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 III
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 Overview

Below is a extended comparison of the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony A57, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 II (16MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty similar but the E-M5 II (Four Thirds) and A57 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 II was released 2 years later than the A57 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-M5 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the E-M5 II scores vs the A57 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 II over the Sony A57

 E-M5 II A57 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015September 2012More recent by 30 months
Screen resolution1037k921kSharper screen (+116k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Olympus E-M5 II

 A57 E-M5 II 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A57

 E-M5 II A57 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 II provides physical measurements 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 A57 has sizing of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 II versus Sony A57 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the E-M5 II against the A57.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 II and A57 is 80 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The photograph underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 II and A57.

Plainly, both of those cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit not the same sensor measurements. The E-M5 II contains the tinier sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF more difficult. The fresher E-M5 II will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Portrait photography highlights
Sony A57 Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
74
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
82
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
supports touch focus
environment proofing
great high ISO (25,600)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Sports photography information
Sony A57 Sports photography information
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
terrible battery power (310 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Travel photography info
Sony A57 Travel photography info
74
environment proofing
supports touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery power (310 shots)
67
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 II Landscape photography details
Sony A57 Landscape photography details
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
terrible battery power (310 CIPA)
72
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 II
Vlogging with Sony A57
82
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic support
77
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic support
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Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 II and Sony A57
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IISony SLT-A57
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 II Sony SLT-A57
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2015-02-06 2012-09-13
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
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
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 16000
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 81 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
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 pounds) 618 grams (1.36 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 75
DXO Color Depth rating 23.0 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.0
DXO Low light rating 896 785
Other
Battery life 310 shots 550 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $699 $1,000