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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 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
  • Released October 2019
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Sony A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Increase to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Introduced January 2019
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Olympus E-M5 III versus Sony A6400, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the A6400 (24MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and A6400 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was unveiled 10 months later than the A6400 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6400 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summary of how the E-M5 III matches up vs the A6400 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony A6400

 E-M5 III A6400 
IntroducedOctober 2019January 2019More recent by 10 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k922kClearer screen (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 A6400 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A6400

 E-M5 III A6400 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III comes with external measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") having a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Sony A6400 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") and a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 III versus Sony A6400 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 III and the A6400.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 III and A6400 is 80 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 III and A6400.

As you have seen, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 III having a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A6400 will produce extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The newer E-M5 III is going to have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography highlights
Sony A6400 Portrait photography highlights
77
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
81
you can focus manually
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography highlights
Sony A6400 Street photography highlights
83
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
provides touch to focus
environment proof
good ISO range (25,600)
81
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
environment proofing
above average high ISO (32,000)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Sports photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Sports photography camera
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
high max fps (30.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
low battery (310 per charge)
76
MP count good (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
has phase detect AF
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography info
Sony A6400 Travel photography info
77
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
provides touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
low battery (310 shots)
87
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
has focus by touch
MP count good (24MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Landscape photography camera
77
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proof
low battery (310 shots)
80
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
MP count good (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (32,000)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Sony A6400
84
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic jack
80
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has external microphone socket
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A6400
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Alpha a6400
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Alpha a6400
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2019-10-17 2019-01-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VIII Bionz X
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 32000
Maximum boosted ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 121 425
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 30.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414 gr (0.91 pounds) 403 gr (0.89 pounds)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 83
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1431
Other
Battery life 310 shots 410 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,199 $898