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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Introduced October 2019
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Later Model is OM System OM-5
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Introduced April 2017
  • Updated by Sony A9 II
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A9, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the A9 (24MP) is fairly close but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and A9 (Full frame) have different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was announced 2 years later than the A9 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick overview of how the E-M5 III grades versus the A9 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony A9

 E-M5 III A9 
IntroducedOctober 2019April 2017Fresher by 31 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 A9 E-M5 III 
Display resolution1440k1040kCrisper display (+400k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A9

 E-M5 III A9 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 III has outside dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 III versus the A9.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and A9 is 80 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing only by researching specifications. The visual underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and A9.

Plainly, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A9 will provide you with extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 III should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography advice
Sony A9 Portrait photography advice
77
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
83
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography details
Sony A9 Street photography details
83
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
environment proofing
good ISO range (25,600)
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
includes focus by touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography factors
Sony A9 Sports photography factors
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect autofocus
terrible battery life (310 CIPA)
86
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery pack (650 shots)
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography factors
Sony A9 Travel photography factors
77
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
includes focus via touch
megapixel count decent (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery life (310 per charge)
73
good battery pack (650 per charge)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
includes focus by touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography information
Sony A9 Landscape photography information
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
terrible battery life (310 per charge)
85
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
good battery pack (650 shots)
two card slots
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 Vlogging highlights
84
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic jack
36
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A9
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Alpha A9
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Alpha A9
Category Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2019-10-17 2017-04-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII BIONZ X
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 50
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 121 693
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames per second 20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max 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 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM -
Max video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414g (0.91 pounds) 673g (1.48 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 92
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 3517
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 650 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One 2
Retail cost $1,199 $4,498