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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 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
  • Launched October 2019
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Successor is OM System OM-5
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Introduced July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 Overview

Here is a complete comparison of the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A390, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and A390 (14MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and A390 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The E-M5 III was introduced 9 years later than the A390 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M5 III matches up vs the A390 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony A390

 E-M5 III A390 
IntroducedOctober 2019July 2010Fresher by 113 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kCrisper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 A390 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A390

 E-M5 III A390 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III offers physical measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") and a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A390 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the A390.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and A390 is 80 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing simply by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 III and A390.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Olympus E-M5 III will produce more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger E-M5 III should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography information
Sony A390 Portrait photography information
77
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography features
Sony A390 Street photography features
83
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
provides touch focus
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
76
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography info
Sony A390 Sports photography info
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (30.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery life (310 CIPA)
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames/s)
bad battery life (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography info
Sony A390 Travel photography info
77
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
provides touch focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery life (310 shots)
53
good resolution (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography advice
Sony A390 Landscape photography advice
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery life (310 per charge)
61
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inches)
bad battery life (230 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging features
Sony A390 Vlogging features
84
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have mic port
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A390
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2019-10-17 2010-07-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII Bionz
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
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 -
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 None
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 414g (0.91 pounds) 549g (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 66
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 607
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 230 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,199 $500