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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 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
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Launched February 2013
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX1, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the RX1 (24MP) is relatively close but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and RX1 (Full frame) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 III was manufactured 6 years after the RX1 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-M5 III scores against the RX1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony RX1

 E-M5 III RX1 
LaunchedOctober 2019February 2013Newer by 82 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 RX1 E-M5 III 
Screen resolution1229k1040kClearer screen (+189k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX1

 E-M5 III RX1 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 III has got physical dimensions 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 RX1 has sizing of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 III and the RX1.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and RX1 is 80 and 79 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by researching specifications. The pic underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and RX1.

To sum up, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 III because of its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony RX1 will result in more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 III should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography details
Sony RX1 Portrait photography details
77
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
82
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography info
Sony RX1 Street photography info
83
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather sealing
above average ISO range (25,600)
66
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography information
Sony RX1 Sports photography information
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (30.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery life (310 per charge)
53
decent megapixels (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (270 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
77
weather sealing
supports bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
low battery life (310 per charge)
62
decent megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
very good max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery (270 CIPA)
heavier than others (482 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
77
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
low battery life (310 per charge)
65
has manual focus
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent megapixels (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (270 shots)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
84
selfie friendly display
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detection focus
good video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
34
very good max aperture (f2.0)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic port
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (482g)
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX1
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Type Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2019-10-17 2013-02-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VIII -
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 852.0mm²
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
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 secs 1/4000 secs
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 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 414g (0.91 lbs) 482g (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 93
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.3
DXO Low light score not tested 2534
Other
Battery life 310 photos 270 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,199 $2,798