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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha a6000 front
Portability
85
Imaging
66
Features
78
Overall
70

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 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
  • Renewed by Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A6000
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 51200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 344g - 120 x 67 x 45mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-6
  • New Model is Sony A6300
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A6000, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and A6000 (24MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A6000 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M5 was introduced 24 months before the A6000 making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the E-M5 grades against the A6000 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A6000

 E-M5 A6000 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A6000 over the Olympus E-M5

 A6000 E-M5 
LaunchedApril 2014April 2012More modern by 24 months
Display resolution922k610kSharper display (+312k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A6000

 E-M5 A6000 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 enjoys outer dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony A6000 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 45mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.8") along with a weight of 344 grams (0.76 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A6000 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the E-M5 against the A6000.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the E-M5 and A6000 is 81 and 85 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing specifications. The picture here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the E-M5 and A6000.

Plainly, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A6000 will provide you with extra detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images way more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography details
Sony A6000 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files
79
has manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography details
Sony A6000 Street photography details
82
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features touch to focus
weather sealing
very good ISO range (25,600)
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (344g)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Sony A6000
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
no phase detect auto focus
73
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Sony A6000
66
weather sealing
features touch to focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
77
lighter than others in class (344g)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A6000 Landscape photography highlights
73
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
lack of Timelapse function
78
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Sony A6000
34
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone port
33
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (344 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have external mic port
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A6000
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha a6000
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha a6000
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-04-30 2014-04-23
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VI Bionz X
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 16MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 35 179
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Amount of lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 610k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction, hi-speed sync, wireless control
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lbs) 344 gr (0.76 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 120 x 67 x 45mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 82
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 13.1
DXO Low light score 826 1347
Other
Battery life 360 images 360 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $799 $548