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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha A7c front
Portability
78
Imaging
77
Features
88
Overall
81

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c 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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A7c
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 509g - 124 x 71 x 60mm
  • Released September 2020
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and A7c (24MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A7c (Full frame) possess different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was released 9 years earlier than the A7c which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A7c being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the E-M5 matches up versus the A7c when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A7c

 E-M5 A7c 

Reasons to pick Sony A7c over the Olympus E-M5

 A7c E-M5 
ReleasedSeptember 2020April 2012Newer by 101 months
Display typeFully articulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution922k610kCrisper display (+312k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A7c

 E-M5 A7c 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Touch display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 offers external measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A7c has sizing of 124mm x 71mm x 60mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 2.4") and a weight of 509 grams (1.12 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 versus the A7c.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and A7c is 81 and 78 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading technical specs. The pic here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and A7c.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony A7c will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A7c Portrait photography advice
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
79
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
Sony A7c as a Street photography camera
82
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch focus
weather proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
85
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
includes touch to focus
environment proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Sony A7c
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
no phase detect AF
88
silent shooting (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
good battery life (740 per charge)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography information
Sony A7c Travel photography information
66
weather proofing
includes touch focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
does not posses selfie friendly display
86
good battery life (740 shots)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
includes touch to focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography factors
Sony A7c Landscape photography factors
73
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
no Time Lapse mode
88
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
very good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
good battery life (740 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A7c as a Vlogging camera
34
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not posses selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
86
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has mic port
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A7c Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A7c
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha A7c
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha A7c
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-04-30 2020-09-14
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 693
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Total lenses 107 122
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 610k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot 2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 pounds) 509 grams (1.12 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 124 x 71 x 60mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots 740 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $799 $1,800