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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5R front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R 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
  • Newer Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony NEX-5R
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5N
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5T
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the NEX-5R (16MP) is fairly well matched but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5R (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was introduced 4 months prior to the NEX-5R which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the E-M5 matches up vs the NEX-5R with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony NEX-5R

 E-M5 NEX-5R 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5R over the Olympus E-M5

 NEX-5R E-M5 
Display resolution920k610kCrisper display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-5R

 E-M5 NEX-5R 
IntroducedApril 2012August 2012Similar age
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Olympus E-M5 has exterior dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 against the NEX-5R.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and NEX-5R is 81 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and NEX-5R.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer the same exact resolution but not the same sensor sizing. The E-M5 comes with the tinier sensor which should make achieving bokeh harder.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5R Portrait photography features
71
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-5R Street photography highlights
82
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
offers touch focus
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
80
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography info
Sony NEX-5R Sports photography info
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
environment proof
doesn't have phase detect AF
68
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5R Travel photography info
66
environment proof
offers touch focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
73
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5R Landscape photography highlights
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
lack of Time Lapse recording
75
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging features
Sony NEX-5R Vlogging features
34
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of mic support
31
screen is touchscreen
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-5R
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha NEX-5R
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-04-30 2012-08-29
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 99
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 610k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor Tilt Up 180� Down 50� TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250s 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 pounds) 276 gr (0.61 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 78
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.1
DXO Low light rating 826 910
Other
Battery life 360 images 330 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $799 $750