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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony HX300
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Olympus E-M5 and Sony HX400V, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the HX400V (20MP) is relatively well matched but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and HX400V (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The E-M5 was introduced 21 months before the HX400V which makes them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the E-M5 matches up against the HX400V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony HX400V

 E-M5 HX400V 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Olympus E-M5

 HX400V E-M5 
ReleasedFebruary 2014April 2012Newer by 21 months
Screen resolution921k610kSharper screen (+311k dot)

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony HX400V

 E-M5 HX400V 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-M5 features outer 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) while the Sony HX400V has measurements of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") accompanied by a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-M5 and Sony HX400V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the E-M5 versus the HX400V.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and HX400V is 81 and 62 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through technical specs. The picture below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and HX400V.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX400V will give more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX400V Portrait photography highlights
71
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
51
you can focus manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-M5
Street photography with Sony HX400V
82
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus by touch
weather proofing
above average high ISO (25,600)
50
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than average (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
Sports photography with Sony HX400V
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
weather proofing
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
has tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Travel photography camera
66
weather proofing
includes focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
53
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (1200mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (660g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography information
Sony HX400V Landscape photography information
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
does not have Time Lapse function
49
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX400V as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
29
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone port
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
more heavy than average (660g)
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony HX400V
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Company Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-04-30 2014-02-12
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW support
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 610 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 gr (0.94 lbs) 660 gr (1.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photos 300 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $799 $448