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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III 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
  • Older Model is Olympus E-M5 II
  • Later Model is OM System OM-5
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released May 2014
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Successor is Sony RX100 IV
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Olympus E-M5 III versus Sony RX100 III, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is relatively close but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and RX100 III (1") have different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 III was introduced 5 years later than the RX100 III and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the E-M5 III scores against the RX100 III when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony RX100 III

 E-M5 III RX100 III 
ReleasedOctober 2019May 2014Fresher by 67 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Olympus E-M5 III

 RX100 III E-M5 III 
Screen resolution1229k1040kCrisper screen (+189k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX100 III

 E-M5 III RX100 III 
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 III has 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) while the Sony RX100 III has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

See the Olympus E-M5 III versus Sony RX100 III in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 III against the RX100 III.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 III and RX100 III is 80 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 III and RX100 III.

Clearly, each of the cameras have the same megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The E-M5 III includes the bigger sensor which is going to make getting bokeh simpler. The more recent E-M5 III provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography highlights
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography highlights
77
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
64
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Street photography with Sony RX100 III
83
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather proof
great ISO range (25,600)
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Sports photography camera
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
silent mode (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (310 CIPA)
65
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography information
Sony RX100 III Travel photography information
77
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery (310 shots)
85
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 III
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
not so great battery (310 shots)
73
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Sony RX100 III
84
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does have external mic support
80
decently wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
does not have microphone port
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX100 III
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Category Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Released 2019-10-17 2014-05-15
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII Bionz X
Sensor type MOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.4 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 121 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 30.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash modes Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414g (0.91 lb) 290g (0.64 lb)
Physical dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 495
Other
Battery life 310 photos 320 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $1,199 $748