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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 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 A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed May 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 Overview

Here is a in-depth assessment of the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the A580 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A580 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was unveiled 12 months later than the A580 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the E-M5 matches up against the A580 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A580

 E-M5 A580 
RevealedApril 2012May 2011Fresher by 12 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Olympus E-M5

 A580 E-M5 
Screen resolution922k610kSharper screen (+312k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A580

 E-M5 A580 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 provides exterior measurements 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 A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 and the A580.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and A580 is 81 and 64 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by going through technical specs. The photograph underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and A580.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras have the same MP albeit not the same sensor sizing. The E-M5 features the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallower depth of field more challenging. The fresher E-M5 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A580 Portrait photography highlights
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Sony A580
82
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (25,600)
75
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography highlights
Sony A580 Sports photography highlights
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
weather proof
no phase detect autofocus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography advice
Sony A580 Travel photography advice
66
weather proof
features focus via touch
good megapixels (16MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
60
great battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography advice
Sony A580 Landscape photography advice
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proof
doesn't have Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (1,050 shots)
has double storage slots
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A580 as a Vlogging camera
34
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic port
display is not selfie friendly
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A580
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-04-30 2011-05-26
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 107 143
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250s 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 pounds) 599 grams (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 80
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.3
DXO Low light rating 826 1121
Other
Battery life 360 images 1050 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Two
Retail cost $799 $848