Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5R

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.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus OM-D E-M5 & Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The whole galleries are provided at Olympus E-M5 Gallery & Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.