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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 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
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Superseded the Sony A380
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A390, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the A390 (14MP) is relatively close but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A390 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was unveiled 22 months later than the A390 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the E-M5 matches up vs the A390 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A390

 E-M5 A390 
ReleasedApril 2012July 2010Fresher by 22 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution610k230kSharper screen (+380k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Olympus E-M5

 A390 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A390

 E-M5 A390 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 comes with physical dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A390 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 compared to the A390.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and A390 is 81 and 66 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing only by researching a spec sheet. The visual below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and A390.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Olympus E-M5 will provide you with extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography information
Sony A390 Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
72
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography info
Sony A390 Street photography info
82
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus by touch
environment sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
76
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography advice
Sony A390 Sports photography advice
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
lack of phase detect autofocus
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (230 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography features
Sony A390 Travel photography features
66
environment sealing
has focus by touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
53
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
terrible battery (230 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A390 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
missing Timelapse mode
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Sony A390
34
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
9
lack of video recording
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A390
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-04-30 2010-07-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
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 rate 9.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425g (0.94 lbs) 549g (1.21 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 66
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 11.5
DXO Low light rating 826 607
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 230 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $799 $500