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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500

Portability
80 Imaging
62 Features
88 Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81 Imaging
68 Features
85 Overall
74

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 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 Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Announced October 2019
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Announced October 2016
  • Earlier Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is fairly close but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 III was manufactured 3 years later than the A6500 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the E-M5 III grades against the A6500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony A6500

		

		

			
 E-M5 III A6500 
AnnouncedOctober 2019October 2016More recent by 37 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k922kSharper display (+118k dot)
Selfie screen  Take selfies
		

	

	
	

		

		
Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Olympus E-M5 III

		

		

			
 A6500 E-M5 III 
		

	

	
	

		

		
Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A6500

		

		

			
 E-M5 III A6500 
Manually focus  Dial accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch friendly display  Easily navigate
		

	

	

	
	
	
	

	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

		

		

			
If you are going to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III features outer dimensions 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 A6500 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 III versus the A6500.
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 size comparison
Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and A6500 is 80 and 81 respectively.
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

		

		

			
Usually, its difficult to see the gap in sensor measurements only by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and A6500.
Clearly, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 III due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A6500 will render greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The fresher E-M5 III will have a benefit in sensor tech.
	
			Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison			
		

	

	
	

		

		
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

		

		

					

		Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison	

	
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Photography Type Scores

		

	

	
Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
77
 you can focus manually
 good  resolution (20MP)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 has face detect focus
 exports RAW files
80
 manual focus
 sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
 sensor size is decent (APS-C)
 includes face detection focusing
 supports RAW files
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Street Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Street photography highlights
Sony A6500 Street photography highlights
83
 screen can move to multiple angles
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW files
 offers focus via touch
 environment proof
 good high ISO (25,600)
85
 has a tilting screen
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor size is decent (APS-C)
 supports RAW files
 features touch focus
 environment proofing
 great high ISO (25,600)
Photography Glossary
Sports Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography factors
Sony A6500 Sports photography factors
76
 maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
 quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
 high max frames per second (30.0 fps)
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 good  resolution (20 megapixels)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 has tracking focus
 environment proof
 sensor has phase detect auto focus
 low battery power (310 shots)
77
 silent shutter (1/32,000s)
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
 sensor size is decent (APS-C)
 includes tracking autofocus
 environment proofing
 supports phase detect AF
 not so great battery pack (350 shots)
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Travel Comparison
 Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
 Sony A6500 as a Travel photography camera
77
 environment proof
 connects via bluetooth
 offers focus via touch
 good  resolution (20MP)
 screen is selfie friendly
 low battery power (310 shots)
74
 environment proofing
 connects via bluetooth
 features touch focus
 sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 not so great battery pack (350 per charge)
 screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison
 Olympus E-M5 III as a Landscape photography camera
 Sony A6500 as a Landscape photography camera
77
 you can focus manually
 interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 screen size is good (3")
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 good  resolution (20MP)
 sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
 good high ISO (25,600)
 exports RAW files
 environment proof
 low battery power (310 per charge)
80
 manual focus
 change lenses (Sony E mount)
 screen size is decent (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
 sensor size is decent (APS-C)
 great high ISO (25,600)
 supports RAW files
 environment proofing
 not so great battery pack (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison
Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Sony A6500
84
 screen is selfie friendly
 touchscreen capability
 built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 has face detect focus
 great video quality (4096 x 2160 pixels)
 includes microphone jack
39
 screen is touchscreen
 image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 includes face detection focusing
 video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
 comes with external microphone support
 screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony A6500 Specifications

		

		

					

		
		

			Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony A6500
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Alpha a6500
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2019-10-17 2016-10-06
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 3:2 and  16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Max enhanced ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures    
Min enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Autofocus touch    
Autofocus continuous    
Autofocus single    
Autofocus tracking    
Autofocus selectice    
Autofocus center weighted    
Multi area autofocus    
Live view autofocus    
Face detection focus    
Contract detection focus    
Phase detection focus    
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 screen Fully Articulated Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch operation    
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
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance    
Image stabilization    
Built-in 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 Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
Hot shoe    
AEB    
White balance bracketing    
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 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
Max video resolution 4096x2160 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support    
Headphone support    
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 414g (0.91 lb) 453g (1.00 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 85
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1405
Other
Battery life 310 photos 350 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording   With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $1,199 $1,298