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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550

Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 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
  • Replaced the Olympus E-M5 II
  • New Model is OM System OM-5
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced July 2011
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony W550, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 III (20MP) and W550 (14MP) and the E-M5 III (Four Thirds) and W550 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 III was released 8 years after the W550 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the E-M5 III grades versus the W550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 III over the Sony W550

 E-M5 III W550 
IntroducedOctober 2019July 2011Newer by 101 months
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Olympus E-M5 III

 W550 E-M5 III 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony W550

 E-M5 III W550 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 III has got outside measurements of 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") and a weight of 414 grams (0.91 lbs) while the Sony W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 III and Sony W550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 III versus the W550.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 III and W550 is 80 and 96 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor dimensions merely by checking specifications. The picture here will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 III and W550.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 III featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 III will give extra detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 III will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography info
Sony W550 Portrait photography info
77
has manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
28
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III Street photography factors
Sony W550 Street photography factors
83
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
boasts focus via touch
environment sealing
good ISO range (25,600)
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5 III
Sports photography with Sony W550
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (30.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (310 shots)
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Travel photography camera
Sony W550 as a Travel photography camera
77
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus via touch
resolution is good (20MP)
screen is selfie friendly
not so great battery power (310 shots)
65
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (26mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 III as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
not so great battery power (310 per charge)
42
quite wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5 III
Vlogging with Sony W550
84
screen is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (4096 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic jack
29
quite wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic support
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Olympus E-M5 III vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 III and Sony W550
 Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Advanced Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2019-10-17 2011-07-24
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VIII BIONZ
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.4 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 226.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 121 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-104mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.68x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 30.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
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 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 414 grams (0.91 lbs) 110 grams (0.24 lbs)
Dimensions 125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single -
Pricing at release $1,199 $119