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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Raise to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Revealed January 2019
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 Overview

Following is a in-depth comparison of the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony A6400, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and A6400 (24MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and A6400 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was announced 7 years before the A6400 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6400 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the E-M5 grades against the A6400 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony A6400

 E-M5 A6400 

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Olympus E-M5

 A6400 E-M5 
RevealedJanuary 2019April 2012More modern by 81 months
Display resolution922k610kCrisper display (+312k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony A6400

 E-M5 A6400 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 features external measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A6400 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") along with a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony A6400 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the E-M5 and the A6400.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and A6400 is 81 and 83 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to envision the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The picture underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and A6400.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The E-M5 using its smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Sony A6400 will provide more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography factors
Sony A6400 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
81
manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Sony A6400
82
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
offers focus via touch
environment proof
great high ISO (25,600)
81
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
weather proofing
great ISO range (32,000)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography details
Sony A6400 Sports photography details
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment proof
no phase detect auto focus
76
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography details
Sony A6400 Travel photography details
66
environment proof
offers focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
87
weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography details
Sony A6400 Landscape photography details
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
does not have Timelapse mode
80
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (32,000)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Vlogging factors
Sony A6400 Vlogging factors
34
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
80
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
supports face detection focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone support
no image stabilization
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony A6400
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Alpha a6400
General Information
Manufacturer Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Alpha a6400
Category Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2012-04-30 2019-01-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 35 425
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Number of lenses 107 121
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 610k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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) Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lb) 403 gr (0.89 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 83
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.6
DXO Low light rating 826 1431
Other
Battery life 360 shots 410 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Card slots One One
Price at release $799 $898