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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
80 Imaging
60 Features
88 Overall
71
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89 Imaging
53 Features
77 Overall
62

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA 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 Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Released October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Refreshed by OM System OM-5
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched July 2018
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX100 VA, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M5 III (20MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is very close but the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and RX100 VA (1") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 III was brought out 16 months later than the RX100 VA making them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the E-M5 III matches up versus the RX100 VA with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

          

          

            
 E-M5 III RX100 VA 
LaunchedOctober 2019July 2018More recent by 16 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Touch friendly display  Easily navigate
          

        


        

          

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

          

          

            
 RX100 VA E-M5 III 
Display resolution1229k1040kCrisper display (+189k dot)
          

        


        

          

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

          

          

            
 E-M5 III RX100 VA 
Manually focus  Very exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen  Both are selfie friendly
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

          

          

            
When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 III enjoys external dimensions of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") with a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) and the Sony RX100 VA has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).
Check the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX100 VA in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 III vs the RX100 VA.
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison
Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 III and RX100 VA is 80 and 89 respectively.
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
More often than not, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor measurements just by looking through a spec sheet. The visual below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 III and RX100 VA.
Clearly, each of the cameras come with the identical megapixels but not the same sensor measurements. The E-M5 III includes the larger sensor which is going to make getting bokeh easier. The newer E-M5 III will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

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

        


        

          

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

          

          

                      

          Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 VA Portrait photography features
76
 focusing manually
 MP count good (20 megapixels)
 nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
 features face detection focusing
 exports RAW formats
66
 has manual focus
 flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
 resolution is good (20MP)
 sensor size is good (1")
 comes with face detection focus
 exports RAW formats
 can't use external flash
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Street Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Street photography details
Sony RX100 VA Street photography details
83
 screen can move to multiple angles
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
 exports RAW formats
 comes with touch to focus
 weather proofing
 great ISO range (25,600)
85
 screen tilts up and down
 image stabilization (Optical)
 sensor size is good (1")
 exports RAW formats
 lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
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Sports Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography details
Sony RX100 VA Sports photography details
75
 maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
 quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
 high fps (30.0 frames per second)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 MP count good (20 megapixels)
 nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
 features tracking autofocus
 weather proofing
 comes with phase detect AF
 not so great battery power (310 per charge)
70
 quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
 high max frames per second (24.0 frames/s)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 resolution is good (20 megapixels)
 sensor size is good (1")
 comes with tracking autofocus
 sensor has phase detect auto focus
 terrible battery power (220 per charge)
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Travel Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography features
Sony RX100 VA Travel photography features
77
 weather proofing
 has bluetooth
 comes with touch to focus
 MP count good (20 megapixels)
 selfie friendly display
 not so great battery power (310 CIPA)
76
 lighter than competition in class (299g)
 resolution is good (20MP)
 flash built-in
 selfie friendly screen
 quite wide (24mm)
 good max aperture (f1.8)
 doesn't have Timelapse function
 terrible battery power (220 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography advice
Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography advice
77
 focusing manually
 interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
 pretty good screen size (3 inches)
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 MP count good (20MP)
 nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
 great ISO range (25,600)
 exports RAW formats
 weather proofing
 not so great battery power (310 per charge)
66
 has manual focus
 quite wide (24mm)
 good max aperture (f1.8)
 screen size is good (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 resolution is good (20 megapixels)
 sensor size is good (1")
 exports RAW formats
 can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
 terrible battery power (220 per charge)
 doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison
Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging highlights
Sony RX100 VA Vlogging highlights
84
 selfie friendly display
 built-in touchscreen
 has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
 features face detection focusing
 good video quality (4096 x 2160 pxls)
 does have external microphone support
81
 quite wide (24mm)
 good max aperture (f1.8)
 selfie friendly screen
 image stabilization (Optical)
 comes with face detection focus
 good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
 lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
 doesn't have external microphone jack
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony RX100 VA
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Class Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Released 2019-10-17 2018-07-13
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
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
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 125
RAW files    
Minimum boosted ISO 64 80
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 focusing    
Contract detect focusing    
Phase detect focusing    
Total focus points 121 315
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch friendly    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 seconds 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 30.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB    
Image stabilization    
Inbuilt flash    
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash    
AE bracketing    
White balance bracketing    
Highest 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
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 input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 414 gr (0.91 lbs) 299 gr (0.66 lbs)
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 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 shots 220 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes
Time lapse feature    
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $1,199 $998