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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • New Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Successor is Sony A6000
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Below is a extensive comparison of the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by brands Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is very comparable but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and NEX-6 (APS-C) feature different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was unveiled 10 months before the NEX-6 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the E-M5 matches up versus the NEX-6 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony NEX-6

 E-M5 NEX-6 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Olympus E-M5

 NEX-6 E-M5 
LaunchedMarch 2013April 2012More recent by 10 months
Display resolution921k610kClearer display (+311k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-6

 E-M5 NEX-6 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 has got exterior measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-6 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the E-M5 compared to the NEX-6.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and NEX-6 is 81 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing specifications. The visual here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and NEX-6.

To sum up, the two cameras offer the same exact MP but different sensor measurements. The E-M5 comes with the smaller sensor which will make obtaining bokeh trickier. The older E-M5 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Sony NEX-6
82
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
supports touch focus
environment proofing
good high ISO (25,600)
78
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (345g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-6 Sports photography details
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
lacks phase detect autofocus
66
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-6 Travel photography info
66
environment proofing
supports touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
75
lighter than competition in class (345 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography details
Sony NEX-6 Landscape photography details
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
missing Time Lapse recording
75
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3")
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Sony NEX-6
34
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing mic jack
32
includes face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (345g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony NEX-6
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-30 2013-03-25
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 35 99
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 610 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
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
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lb) 345 grams (0.76 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 78
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 13.1
DXO Low light score 826 1018
Other
Battery life 360 shots 360 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $799 $365