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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 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
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • New Model is Sony A9 II
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony A9, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and A9 (24MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A9 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The E-M5 was released 6 years prior to the A9 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the E-M5 scores against the A9 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A9

 E-M5 A9 

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Olympus E-M5

 A9 E-M5 
RevealedApril 2017April 2012More modern by 60 months
Screen resolution1440k610kSharper screen (+830k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A9

 E-M5 A9 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys outside dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A9 has dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony A9 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 and the A9.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and A9 is 81 and 65 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes just by reading technical specs. The image below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and A9.

As you have seen, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF harder and the Sony A9 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography factors
Sony A9 Portrait photography factors
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
84
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography factors
Sony A9 Street photography factors
82
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch focus
environment proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
79
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
comes with touch focus
environment sealing
above average ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A9 as a Sports photography camera
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
lack of phase detect AF
87
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
high max fps (20.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery life (650 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Sony A9 Travel photography features
66
environment proofing
comes with touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
74
great battery life (650 per charge)
environment sealing
has bluetooth
comes with touch focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A9 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
no Time Lapse function
86
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
great battery life (650 per charge)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging information
Sony A9 Vlogging information
34
touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no external mic port
37
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic socket
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A9
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha A9
Category Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-04-30 2017-04-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Highest enhanced ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
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
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.78x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425g (0.94 lbs) 673g (1.48 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 92
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 13.3
DXO Low light score 826 3517
Other
Battery life 360 photos 650 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots One 2
Launch price $799 $4,498