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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 front
Portability
69
Imaging
32
Features
25
Overall
29

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Updated by Olympus E-M5 II
Sony H50
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-465mm (F2.7-4.5) lens
  • 547g - 116 x 81 x 86mm
  • Revealed January 2009
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Olympus E-M5 and Sony H50, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and H50 (9MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and H50 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was introduced 3 years later than the H50 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H50 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the E-M5 scores versus the H50 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony H50

 E-M5 H50 
RevealedApril 2012January 2009Fresher by 41 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution610k230kCrisper screen (+380k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony H50 over the Olympus E-M5

 H50 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony H50

 E-M5 H50 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-M5 offers outer dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony H50 has proportions of 116mm x 81mm x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4") with a weight of 547 grams (1.21 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-M5 and Sony H50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-M5 against the H50.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the E-M5 and H50 is 81 and 69 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing only by looking at specs. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-M5 and H50.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The E-M5 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Olympus E-M5 will give you extra detail using its extra 7MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively. The newer E-M5 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography advice
Sony H50 Portrait photography advice
71
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
27
you can focus manually
can't use external flash
low MP (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography information
Sony H50 Street photography information
82
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
environment proofing
great ISO range (25,600)
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
heavier than average in class (547 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography factors
Sony H50 Sports photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
does not have phase detect AF
32
great zoom range (31-465mm 15.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
low MP (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Sony H50
66
environment proofing
supports touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
44
flash built-in
great zoom (465mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (547g)
low MP (9MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography info
Sony H50 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
does not have Timelapse function
34
you can focus manually
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
low MP (9MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H50 as a Vlogging camera
34
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone support
19
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (31mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic support
heavier than average in class (547g)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony H50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony H50
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2012-04-30 2009-01-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic VI -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 9 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 3:2
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 31-465mm (15.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.7-4.5
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 610 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 9.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
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) 640 x 480, 30 fps, 320 x 240, 8 fps
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format H.264, Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
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 425g (0.94 pounds) 547g (1.21 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 116 x 81 x 86mm (4.6" x 3.2" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 pictures -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $799 $80