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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
Portability
54
Imaging
67
Features
62
Overall
65

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Renewed by Sony A99
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony A900, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Olympus and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and A900 (25MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A900 (Full frame) feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was released 3 years after the A900 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the E-M5 grades vs the A900 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A900

 E-M5 A900 
LaunchedApril 2012October 2008Newer by 43 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Olympus E-M5

 A900 E-M5 
Display resolution922k610kCrisper display (+312k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A900

 E-M5 A900 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera often, you should think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys outside 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 A900 has sizing of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony A900 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 versus the A900.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and A900 is 81 and 54 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The picture below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and A900.

As you have seen, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony A900 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The more modern E-M5 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography factors
Sony A900 Portrait photography factors
71
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
72
has manual focus
megapixel count excellent (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Sony A900
82
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch focus
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A900 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
does not have phase detect AF
71
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count excellent (25 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather proof
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
max fps very slow (5.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A900 as a Travel photography camera
66
weather sealing
boasts touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no Time Lapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
55
weather proof
megapixel count excellent (25MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Sony A900
73
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
no Time Lapse function
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count excellent (25MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has double storage slots
does not have liveview
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging advice
Sony A900 Vlogging advice
34
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
9
no video recording
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A900
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2012-04-30 2008-10-22
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Full frame
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 25 megapixels
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 6048 x 4032
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 107 143
Crop factor 2.1 1
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 610k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.74x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 895 gr (1.97 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 79
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 12.3
DXO Low light rating 826 1431
Other
Battery life 360 images 880 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 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 Two
Cost at release $799 $2,736