Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-5T

On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony NEX-5T, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is pretty well matched but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5T (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The E-M5 was unveiled 16 months earlier than the NEX-5T which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-5T being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-M5 grades vs the NEX-5T in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Sony Alpha NEX-5T. The full galleries are available at Olympus E-M5 Gallery and Sony NEX-5T Gallery.

If you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 features exterior measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5T has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Examine the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony NEX-5T in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the E-M5 against the NEX-5T.

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

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through a spec sheet. The visual below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and NEX-5T.

As you can see, both the cameras have the same MP albeit different sensor measurements. The E-M5 has the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower depth of field more difficult. The older E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.