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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500

Portability
80
Imaging
60
Features
88
Overall
71
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
54
Overall
58

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 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 a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Launched March 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony A3000
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Olympus E-M5 III versus Sony a3500, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is fairly similar but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and a3500 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 III was launched 5 years after the a3500 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a short overview of how the E-M5 III scores vs the a3500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony a3500

 E-M5 III a3500 
LaunchedOctober 2019March 2014Newer by 68 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 a3500 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony a3500

 E-M5 III a3500 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III has got physical measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has proportions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 III versus Sony a3500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 III compared to the a3500.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and a3500 is 80 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the difference between sensor dimensions purely by reading a spec sheet. The image here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 III and a3500.

Clearly, both the cameras provide the same MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The E-M5 III has the tinier sensor which is going to make obtaining bokeh trickier. The younger E-M5 III is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography advice
Sony a3500 Portrait photography advice
76
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
77
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography details
Sony a3500 Street photography details
83
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
includes touch to focus
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
56
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others in class (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography features
Sony a3500 Sports photography features
75
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
max fps high (30.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect AF
bad battery (310 shots)
59
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
good battery power (470 per charge)
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
Sony a3500 as a Travel photography camera
77
weather sealing
connects via bluetooth
includes touch to focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
bad battery (310 CIPA)
60
good battery power (470 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (411g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography highlights
Sony a3500 Landscape photography highlights
77
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
bad battery (310 per charge)
70
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
good battery power (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging highlights
Sony a3500 Vlogging highlights
84
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
has external mic jack
26
includes face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic port
heavier than others in class (411 grams)
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony a3500
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Alpha a3500
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Alpha a3500
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2019-10-17 2014-03-21
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VIII BIONZ image
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 226.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.47x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414g (0.91 lbs) 411g (0.91 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 310 photographs 470 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) -
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $1,199 $398