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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7S II front
Portability
68
Imaging
62
Features
76
Overall
67

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A7S II
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 102400 (Increase to 409600)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 627g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
  • Announced October 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony A7S
  • Successor is Sony A7S III
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II Overview

Its time to look closer at the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Sony. There exists a crucial gap among the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and A7S II (12MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A7S II (Full frame) posses different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was released 4 years earlier than the A7S II and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the E-M5 matches up vs the A7S II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A7S II

 E-M5 A7S II 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A7S II over the Olympus E-M5

 A7S II E-M5 
AnnouncedOctober 2015April 2012Fresher by 42 months
Display resolution1229k610kClearer display (+619k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A7S II

 E-M5 A7S II 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 features exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A7S II has sizing of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") along with a weight of 627 grams (1.38 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the E-M5 compared to the A7S II.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and A7S II is 81 and 68 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The graphic below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and A7S II.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Olympus E-M5 will show more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos way more aggressively. The older E-M5 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A7S II Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
69
you can focus manually
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography info
Sony A7S II Street photography info
82
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features touch focus
environment proof
good high ISO (25,600)
78
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
great high ISO (102,400)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Sony A7S II
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
has no phase detect AF
58
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (370 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A7S II as a Travel photography camera
66
environment proof
features touch focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
49
weather sealing
terrible battery life (370 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7S II as a Landscape photography camera
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
does not have Time Lapse recording
71
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
great high ISO (102,400)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery life (370 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging details
Sony A7S II Vlogging details
34
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have external mic jack
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7S II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A7S II
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha A7S II
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha A7S II
Category Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-04-30 2015-10-12
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4240 x 2832
Highest native ISO 25600 102400
Highest enhanced ISO - 409600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 169
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 610 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4K (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p [60-100Mbps]), Full HD (1920 x 1080 @ 120p/60p/60i/30p/24p [50-100Mbps]), 720p (30p [16Mbps])
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425g (0.94 lbs) 627g (1.38 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 85
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.3
DXO Low light rating 826 2993
Other
Battery life 360 shots 370 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $799 $2,767