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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 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
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Replacement is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the E-M5 (16MP) and HX5 (10MP) and the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and HX5 (1/2.4") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The E-M5 was released 23 months later than the HX5 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the E-M5 scores against the HX5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony HX5

 E-M5 HX5 
LaunchedApril 2012June 2010More recent by 23 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution610k230kSharper display (+380k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Olympus E-M5

 HX5 E-M5 

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony HX5

 E-M5 HX5 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-M5 has outside measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sony HX5 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the E-M5 against the HX5.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and HX5 is 81 and 92 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading technical specs. The photograph here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-M5 and HX5.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-M5 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus E-M5 will deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The newer E-M5 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus E-M5
Portrait photography with Sony HX5
71
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
19
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography highlights
Sony HX5 Street photography highlights
82
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch focus
environment proofing
great high ISO (25,600)
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
has no phase detect autofocus
26
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Travel photography information
Sony HX5 Travel photography information
66
environment proofing
boasts touch focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
60
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX5 Landscape photography highlights
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
does not have Timelapse mode
37
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX5 as a Vlogging camera
34
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony HX5
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Brand Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-04-30 2010-06-16
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Bionz
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 35 9
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 610k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264, Motion JPEG AVCHD
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 425 grams (0.94 pounds) 200 grams (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLN-1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $799 $275