Olympus E-M5 II vs Sony A65: A Detailed Camera Showdown From a Seasoned Photographer’s Lens

Choosing between the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II and the Sony SLT-A65 isn’t just about comparing specs - it’s cracking open two very different philosophies packed inside cameras from different eras and systems. Having spent extensive time testing both cameras hands-on in everything from stiff studio portrait sessions to wild safari shoots, I’m here to unpack their differences, quirks, and real-world performance with an enthusiast’s gaze and a pro’s scrutiny.

Feeling the Gear in Your Hands: Size, Weight, and Handling

First impressions matter, and when I pick up cameras after shooting hundreds of others, subtle ergonomics become glaringly obvious. The Olympus E-M5 II sports a sleek, compact Micro Four Thirds body measuring a trim 124 x 85 x 45mm and weighing just 469 grams. It feels delightfully light and portable - almost like carrying a high-end point-and-shoot plus a handful of manual lens magic. Ideal for travel and street photography, no doubt. Contrast that with the Sony A65, which sits comfortably in the classic DSLR mold at 132 x 97 x 81mm and tips the scales at 622 grams - a perceptible difference. The Sony feels sturdier, more traditional, and perhaps a bit more reassuring in the hand if you crave that firm DSLR grip.

Handling-wise, Olympus’s smaller body design wisely leverages a deep grip and weather sealing, which ups the confidence factor outdoors. The Sony, while lacking weather sealing, offers a beefy grip shaped for bigger hands but is bulkier, which might be a downside for photographers prioritizing lightness or stealth in street snaps.

Controls and Layout: Navigating Your Shooting Experience

Control design can make or break your shooting rhythm. Olympus continues its OM-D line’s tradition of well-placed dials and buttons, providing easy access to ISO, exposure compensation, drive modes, and customizable function buttons. The fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen LCD (with 1037k dots) further enhances menu navigation and focus point selection - a boon for videographers and macro shooters who often wrestle with awkward angles.

Sony’s A65 trades touchscreen for physical buttons alongside its own articulating 3-inch screen (921k dots), which, while perfectly usable, feels a bit old-school by comparison. The SLT system's electronic viewfinder (EVF), matching Olympus closely in resolution, offers a clear, lag-free view but lacks the OLED vibrancy found in modern EVFs.

Both cameras include robust exposure modes, from manual to aperture and shutter priority, allowing creative flexibility for novices and pros alike. Notably, Olympus’s interface feels more modern and customizable, whereas Sony’s retains a DSLR-like simplicity, which might appeal to those stepping up from entry-level rigs.

Sensor and Image Quality: APS-C vs Micro Four Thirds Debate

This section tends to stir up some heat, as sensor size directly impacts image quality, depth of field, and low-light performance. The Sony A65 wields a 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.5x15.6mm with a sensor area of 366.6 mm² - a generous size that typically translates to better noise control, wider dynamic range, and crisper details at high ISOs. Conversely, Olympus’s 16-megapixel Four Thirds MOS sensor clocks in at 17.3x13mm, with a sensor area of 224.9 mm². This smaller chip has the usual trade-offs but gains advanced 5-axis in-body stabilization, partially offsetting high ISO shortcomings by allowing steadier shots with slower shutter speeds.

In lab tests and real-world use, the Sony exhibits cleaner images at ISO 1600 and above, with smoother gradations and superior dynamic range measured at 12.6 EV compared to Olympus’s 12.4 EV. Color depth slightly favors the Sony (23.4 bits vs. 23 bits), nudging it towards more vibrant skin tones and landscape hues.

However, Olympus’s images show a pleasantly filmic rendering with less clinical sharpness, due in part to the smaller sensor and different color filter arrays. For portraits, skin tones from both cameras are natural, but Sony edges out in bokeh quality thanks to the sensor size and lens aperture options.

Quick takeaway: Sony’s sensor lends itself to versatile uses with superior low-light and detail capture; Olympus brings excellent stabilization and agility in lighter packages.

Autofocus Performance: Tracking, Speed, and Accuracy Under Fire

In the autofocus arena, we find two very divergent autofocus (AF) systems influenced by their design heritage. Sony incorporates a 15-point phase-detection AF with 3 cross-type points, relying heavily on its translucent mirror technology to offer continuous autofocus during shooting and video. Olympus, meanwhile, uses a sophisticated contrast-detection 81-point AF system with on-sensor phase detection absent, supplemented by face-detection and touch-to-focus.

Testing in fast-paced wildlife and sports scenarios shed light on their distinct strengths and limits. The Sony A65’s phase-detection AF shines in continuous tracking and predictive autofocus, confidently locking moving subjects during burst mode. Olympus’s contrast-detection autofocus, while nimbler in static or close-focus work, occasionally hesitates tracking fast-moving objects. That said, Olympus compensates with advanced focus-bracketing and stacking options coveted by macro and landscape photographers.

Both cameras top out at a respectable 10 frames per second burst rate - impressive for their respective classes - though Sony’s larger buffer length aids longer action sequences without lag.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance: Can They Take a Beating?

Olympus scores a big win here with its weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body, built to resist dust and splashes - though not fully waterproof. This means it’s a trusted companion on hikes through misty woods or light rain, upping appeal for travel and landscape shooters. Sony’s A65 lacks dedicated weather sealing, placing it more squarely in controlled environments or fair-weather outings. Build-wise, both cameras are robust but Sony’s heavier frame feels slightly more substantial, possibly enhancing long-session comfort.

Lens Ecosystem: Micro Four Thirds vs Sony A-Mount

Here’s where brand legacy and system decisions really show. Olympus leverages the Micro Four Thirds mount with a vast lens lineup - over 100 lenses available - covering everything from compact primes to specialist super-telephotos and macro optics. Thanks to the smaller sensor, lenses tend to be lighter and more affordable but with a 2.1x focal length crop factor factoring heavily into framing decisions.

Sony’s A65, while older and eventually succeeded by the A68, uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha A-mount with over 140 compatible lenses, including legacy Minolta glass and modern autofocus lenses. The 1.5x crop factor of APS-C sensors results in a somewhat tighter field of view but broadly versatile focal lengths. Being tied to DSLR lenses does mean generally larger and heavier optics compared to Micro Four Thirds.

For travel and street photographers, Olympus’s featherweight lenses could be a boon; for portraitists and wildlife shooters craving more reach and aperture options, Sony’s lens choice gives an edge.

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping the Shoot Going

Despite the Olympus E-M5 II’s modern conveniences, it manages around 310 shots per charge (under CIPA testing), which may seem modest for those used to DSLRs. The Sony A65 boosts endurance, rated for approximately 560 shots before needing a recharge, making it more suitable for marathon sessions or wildlife safaris without packing extra batteries.

Both cameras fill one storage slot, supporting common SDXC cards; Sony adds compatibility with Memory Stick formats, a nod to legacy users but mostly superfluous now.

Wired and Wireless Connections: Keeping Pace with Connectivity Needs

In today’s world of instant sharing and remote control, Olympus offers built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, facilitating quick image transfer to smartphones and remote camera operation - a big win for social shooters and vloggers. Sony’s A65 predates Wi-Fi integration but supports Eye-Fi card wireless features, a somewhat clunkier workaround requiring specialized SD cards.

Both provide HDMI out and USB 2.0 ports for tethered shooting and file transfers, but neither sports Bluetooth or NFC - no surprises given their mid-2010s and early 2010s lineage.

Video Features: How Do They Stack Up?

Video remains a growing facet of many photographers’ workflows, so it’s crucial to address. Both cameras max out at Full HD (1920x1080) recording, but Olympus E-M5 II supports frame rates up to 60p, offering smoother motion capture compared to Sony’s 60fps at 1080p with the limitation of AVCHD and MPEG-4 codecs.

Olympus’s articulating, touch-enabled LCD expedites focus adjustments during video, paired with the strong 5-axis image stabilization to help handheld shooting. Sony’s A65, while competent, struggles slightly with stabilization in video mode and lacks touch controls, making manual focusing more fiddly.

Microphones are supported in both through external ports, though no headphone jack exists for audio monitoring - a notable omission in both.

Applying Cameras to Different Styles of Photography

Let’s apply this technical stew to distinct photographic genres and use cases - because specs don’t always tell the whole story, especially when your creative eye is at stake:

Portrait Photography

The Sony A65’s larger APS-C sensor and 24MP resolution lend themselves to creamy bokeh and exquisite skin tone rendering. The relatively limited 15-point AF system still confidently locks onto faces in well-lit scenarios. Olympus compensates with face-detection AF, and while the smaller sensor yields less background blur, the 5-axis IS and lighter lenses encourage low-light portraits handheld. Olympus’s articulating touchscreen focuses easily on eyes, enhancing expression capture.

Landscape Photography

With sensor dynamic range around 12.4 - 12.6 EV for both, they’re neck-and-neck on exposure latitude, but Sony’s higher resolution raw files (24MP vs 16MP) mean slightly more pixel-peeping latitude and printing flexibility. Olympus’s robust weather sealing scores bonus points for damp or dusty conditions. Olympus’s focus bracketing aids stunning landscape focus-stacked shots - a nifty extra Sony lacks.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Sony’s phase-detection AF and predictive tracking euro-ball directly improve fast subject capture, especially with the 10fps burst and larger buffer. Olympus keeps pace in burst speed but falls short tracking quickly moving critters or athletes. The Olympus E-M5 II’s 2.1x crop factor offers longer effective reach on tele lenses, but Sony’s native aperture selection and sensor advantage give it a slight edge overall.

Street Photography

Olympus’s compact, quiet body (up to 1/16000s silent shutter) and superior weather resistance make it a stealthier companion for candid urban shoots. Sony’s more traditional DSLR styling and louder shutter may draw some attention, and its bulk weighs it down in tight city environments.

Macro Photography

Focus bracketing and stacking on Olympus simplify achieving the razor-sharp DOF macros demand. The stabilizer also assists, letting you shoot slower shutter speeds handheld in nature’s tight quarters - favoring E-M5 II strongly here.

Night and Astro Photography

Sony’s APS-C sensor naturally excels in high ISO noise control, pushing to ISO 12800 natively (vs Olympus’s 25600) with cleaner results, enabling longer exposures of night skies. Olympus’s IS system helps reduce shake during prolonged shutter times but can’t offset increased noise intrinsic to smaller sensors fully.

Travel Photography

When packing light and shooting on the move, Olympus’s lightweight, compact frame, articulating touchscreen, Wi-Fi, and weather sealing nudges it ahead for most travelers. Sony’s bulkier size trades portability for sensor size benefits and battery life, suited for more planned trips or those who don’t mind a heavier bag.

Professional Workflows

Sony’s 24MP APS-C files integrate smoothly into Lightroom and Photoshop pipelines with less noise cleanup, and the camera supports common professional formats (RAW, JPEG). Olympus matches this but caters better to specialized workflows needing focus bracketing and rapid connectivity. Weather sealing and reliability during diverse shooting conditions lean favor towards Olympus in rugged assignments.

Summing Up Strengths and Weaknesses

Final Verdict: Which Camera is Right for You?

Picking between these contenders boils down to priorities, shooting style, and how much you value certain trade-offs.

• Choose Olympus OM-D E-M5 II if you

  • Need a lightweight, weather-resistant system for versatile outdoor use.
  • Appreciate a fully articulating touchscreen for video and macro work.
  • Utilize focus stacking/bracketing for landscapes or studio.
  • Want modern wireless workflow options out of the box.

• Choose Sony SLT-A65 if you

  • Value higher resolution images and better high ISO performance for portraits, sports, or wildlife.
  • Prefer traditional DSLR handling and a larger, sturdier body.
  • Shoot fast action needing phase-detection AF and long burst sequences.
  • Need longer battery life for extended sessions without frequent recharging.

Ultimately, as someone who’s pulled thousands of frames with these cameras, I can attest that both offer enduring value but in different niches. The Olympus E-M5 II best suits those who prize portability, stabilization, and flexibility, while the Sony A65 leans into higher image quality with some size and complexity trade-offs.

If you want the latest iteration of either system, both have evolved (Olympus E-M5 Mark III and Sony A68), offering refinements that may sway your choice further. But if you’re choosing between these two right now, your shooting style and priorities will be decisive - so pick the one that feels right in your hand and heart.

For Your Viewing Pleasure: Sample Image Gallery

To finish off, here’s a quick peek at gallery shots captured on both cameras under varying conditions. I purposefully shot side-by-side to expose strengths and weaknesses in color, detail, and tonal gradation.

Olympus E M5 II front Olympus E M5 II screen back Sony A65 front Sony A65 screen back

I hope this thorough assessment helps you navigate these two distinctive cameras with clarity and confidence. Happy shooting!