Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX5
80 Imaging
61 Features
88 Overall
71


92 Imaging
33 Features
30 Overall
31
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- 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
- Launched October 2019
- Replaced the Olympus E-M5 II
- Successor is OM System OM-5
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 125 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
- 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
- Announced June 2010

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX5 Overview
On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-M5 III versus Sony HX5, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and HX5 (1/2.4") have different sensor sizes.

The E-M5 III was announced 9 years later than the HX5 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.
Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summation of how the E-M5 III grades against the HX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX5 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M5 III & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5. The whole galleries are available at Olympus E-M5 III Gallery & Sony HX5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony HX5
E-M5 III | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | October 2019 | ![]() | June 2010 | Fresher by 114 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial precise focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 1040k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+810k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Olympus E-M5 III
HX5 | E-M5 III |
---|
Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony HX5
E-M5 III | HX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display dimensions |
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison
In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 III enjoys exterior 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 HX5 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).
Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 III versus Sony HX5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 III vs the HX5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 III and HX5 is 80 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison
Usually, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing merely by viewing specifications. The graphic below may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and HX5.
To sum up, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will provide you with more detail with its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more recent E-M5 III should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony HX5 Specifications
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Olympus | Sony |
Model type | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 |
Class | Advanced Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2019-10-17 | 2010-06-16 |
Body design | SLR-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | TruePic VIII | Bionz |
Sensor type | MOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.4" |
Sensor measurements | 17.4 x 13mm | 6.104 x 4.578mm |
Sensor surface area | 226.2mm² | 27.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 20 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 5184 x 3888 | 3456 x 2592 |
Maximum native ISO | 25600 | 3200 |
Minimum native ISO | 200 | 125 |
RAW data | ||
Minimum enhanced ISO | 64 | - |
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 121 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | - | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Largest aperture | - | f/3.5-5.5 |
Macro focusing distance | - | 5cm |
Available lenses | 107 | - |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 5.9 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 1,040k dot | 230k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | None |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,360k dot | - |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | - |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.68x | - |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/8000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Fastest quiet shutter speed | 1/32000 seconds | - |
Continuous shutter speed | 30.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | 3.80 m |
Flash options | Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual | Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | 1/250 seconds | - |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 4096x2160 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | AVCHD |
Microphone 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 | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 414 grams (0.91 pounds) | 200 grams (0.44 pounds) |
Physical dimensions | 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") | 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery life | 310 images | - |
Battery form | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | BLN-1 | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Retail pricing | $1,199 | $275 |