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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Newer Model is Sony A380
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 Overview

On this page, we are analyzing the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A350, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the A350 (14MP) is very close but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A350 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was introduced 3 years after the A350 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the E-M5 matches up vs the A350 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A350

 E-M5 A350 
AnnouncedApril 2012June 2008Newer by 48 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution610k230kClearer display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Olympus E-M5

 A350 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A350

 E-M5 A350 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony A350 has dimensions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A350 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the E-M5 versus the A350.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and A350 is 81 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to envision the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and A350.

As you have seen, both the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Olympus E-M5 will render extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger E-M5 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A350 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
71
manual focus
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Sony A350
82
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports focus by touch
weather proofing
great ISO range (25,600)
66
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
heavier than competition (674 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A350 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
lack of phase detect AF
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography factors
Sony A350 Travel photography factors
66
weather proofing
supports focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
51
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (674g)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Sony A350
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
missing Time Lapse recording
64
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Sony A350
34
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing external mic support
9
no video
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A350
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-04-30 2008-06-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 610k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum 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) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lb) 674 grams (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 65
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 11.5
DXO Low light score 826 595
Other
Battery life 360 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $799 $600